The 1960s and 1970s were what many consider to be the golden years of commercial aviation. Flying was considered a privilege, an event. People who had the means of purchasing a plane ticket dolled themselves up. It was a classy affair, and whilst air travel these days may have lost its pizzazz, Breitling at the very least have attempted to capture the quintessential feelings of reminiscence that is so prominent with each piece exceptionally well.
Breitling Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Swissair Edition
The first of the three pieces is perhaps my favourite. Embodying the look and feel of a timepiece worn on a lucky gentleman’s wrist at 30,000ft during the 60s and 70s, Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Swissair Edition is a beautiful example of nostalgia and of sophistication.
The black dial, silver sub-dials, red chapter ring and red dial highlights create a wonderful effect of old-school styling in a somewhat contemporary package. This is an exemplary timepiece that personifies the archetypal characteristics of aviation travel of that era.
The Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Swissair Edition features a 43mm wide and 14.25mm thick stainless-steel case with a bidirectional bezel and circular slide rule. It’s powered by the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, an automatic movement beating at a fairly speedy 4Hz and with a power reserve of 70-hours.
The Breitling Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Swissair Edition costs $10,970.
Breitling Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Pan Am Edition
Featuring one of aviation’s most instantly recongisable logos on its dial, the Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Pan Am Edition is an aviation-enthusiasts dream. For those of you that don’t know, Pan American World Airways was one of the most dominant airlines in commercial aviation through the mid-90s, and even now they’re still closely linked to the exciting nature of luxury air travel.
The Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Pan Am Edition is the perfect example of a watch embodying the tenets of aviation heritage. Rich in culture and traditional, the details of the Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Pan Am Edition are outstanding. Blues and reds, both very typical of Pan Am, adorn the dial, and the iconic layout and look of the Navitimer 1 is still very much there for the purists to enjoy.
It features the same case dimensions as the Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Swissair Edition along with the same movement, but whilst they may share these similar aspects, both pieces couldn’t be any more different. While the Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Swissair Edition can be seen as slightly more sporty and casual, the The Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Pan Am Edition definitely stands head and shoulders above it in terms of representation, or nostalgia (overkill on the word, I know…), and of history.
The Breitling The Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Pan Am Edition costs $11,810.
Breitling Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 TWA Edition
The third and final piece in Breitling’s first capsule collection is the Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 TWA Edition. This watch celebrates the Trans World Airlines aviation company which was based in the United States. One of the most popular airlines at the time, TWA’s iconic colour palette was one that Breitling used for the Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 TWA Edition, and they did so with great effect.
Silvers, creams, anthracites and reds adorn the dial and are encased beautifully by that high-grade polished stainless-steel case. Featuring the same case dimensions and same movement as the first two capsule pieces, the Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 TWA Edition’s appeal is one that will draw in the crowds of airline enthusiasts and vintage collectors.
There’s a very clear vintage look to the Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 TWA Edition that will definitely appeal to today’s market, but there’s so much more to this watch than its heritage-focused design. The colour palette seems to work so well, and really brings to light the emotion-driven aspects of aviation travel in the 60s and 70s. This is a beautiful timepiece and it’s one that I personally feel will have the greatest appeal amongst collectors
The Breitling Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 TWA Edition costs $10,970.
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