Breitling vintage Navitimers collectors thread

I agree with you, it's a very impressive re-edition. I compared the re-edition to my '61 Navi and was really blown away by how similar they looked.

I put it on brown. It looks better to me...

It is so close to the original, it is very hard to tell the difference to the unaware eye. I have an original 1959 Navi, and can’t tell the difference between the two.

Great thread! Here’s my Cosmonaute (1967). I mainly collect vintage Omega and Breitling, happy to see that we can have a place here where we can discuss the variations and idiosyncrasies of one of the classics from the golden era.

IMHO, every collection needs a Speedmaster and a Navitimer, preferably a Cosmonaute, and that model’s connection to Carpenter and the Mercury program.

One thing to start some feedback and discussion: It seems that later models (big eye and the ones with red marked bezels) have the serial number on the outside of the case back? Can anyone share a light on when, and specifically how it is connected to dial variations?

Thanks! Yes, condition is a challenge with Navitimers. We are not exactly talking dive watches here, and they are usually more or less moisture or water damaged. Often the lume is darkened also.

I think I spent 2-3 years finding mine, and I almost gave up in the process. But hang in there! I am sure you will be rewarded in the end. 😀

You are right. The lume usually does not age well. I think that is the reason why they have picked up in price and demand as much as the Submariner and Speedmaster. I love them, though.

Which year is this model?

Stunning watch, the lack of a date makes it much cleaner compared to the modern ones.

It figures that I'd find one of the best threads on vintage Navitimers here on OF 😁

I've been "studying" Chronographs for a while now and have come to really appreciate Breitling's contribution during the golden era of the Chronograph 👍👍

I have a soft spot for the design-grammer of the 50s & 60s but have also always been weary of going vintage, particularly now a days where it not only takes careful research, but quite a bit of $$$ ... 🤔
So I have always taken the safe road, opting for modern tributes and re-editions, such as Omega's 2020 321 "Ed White" , Seiko's SLA017/25/33s, Zénith's A326 Manufacture Edition and indeed, Breitling's 806 & 765 re-editions 🥰



While on this journey to learn more about Breitling, I began following "WatchFred" on IG as well as going through Kurt Broendum's Website with a "fine-toothed comb" 😀 All the while, dreaming about taking the plunge into the vintage world... . I always thought my first vintage piece would be a Speedmaster but before I could act, the prices went soaring... 😬
But here we are, 2022, the 70th anniversary of the Navitimer and so my attention was once more fully turned to Breitling 😉 As the "806RE" was already in my collection, I was more keen on sourcing a "Twin Jet" Navitimer. Long-story-short, I came across this wonderful piece and the rest, as they say, is history




~~~ SIDEBAR ~~~

Since I took receipt of my TJ, I've been trying to "chart" the timeline to a finer detail than is available on Kurt's website or even the excellent new WatchBooksOnly's "Navitimer Story" . Among other discoveries is the fact that there are at least THREE versions of the standard (monochromatic) Navitimer TwinJet dial, all three (now) appearing in this thread 😎

The first version, AKA "Miles Davis", can be found on @321Only 's wrist:

It's characterized by the first set of fonts, which include a classic "G" in BREITLING as well as classic "V" in both GENEVE / NAVITMER (the bottom of the V is wide).

The second version can be found on the OP's ( @chronoboy64 ) wrist

and uses the next gen of fonts (flatter "G" in BREITLING as well as thinner "Vs" in GENEVE & NAVITMER.

The third version can be found on my wrist and uses essentially the same fonts found on the next-gen "Box 10" Navitimers, characterized by a raised "T" in NAVITMER and a gap in the "SWIS S" (of Swiss Made)


I was hoping the case number (10665nn - Feb. 1966) and user guide (for the 806, 1968 816 & 1969 1806) might give additional hints to dating my TJ but as it turns out, the cases were produced in large batches and there was no "FIFO" in place. Worse, the paperwork was added to the watch (&box) after the sale by the dealer, so... "anything goes" 😗

All I can say for sure is that it wasn't a 1964~65 and it came out before the 1967 Box-10, Fred's own being a wonderful example:


~~~ ~~~

Last but not least, I hope to have "kick-started" this thread back to life; I started a "#BreitlingSquad" thread hoping to get Bretling owners to participate but as far as vintage Navitimers go, this thread it perfect 🥰

Wabi-sabi Navitimer 806 from 1967
Should I restore it or leave it as is? 😀