When one considers Breitling, one finds it difficult to separate the famous Swiss watch brand from its long and illustrious partnership with the aviation industry. That particular history, which Breitling are undoubtedly and rightfully proud of, is once again brought into sharp focus with the release of a familiar face.
The Breitling Navitimer AOPA was a recognisable feature during the 1950s. Originally designed to assist with all airborne navigation calculations, thanks to its circular slide rule, it swiftly became one of the most celebrated timepieces in history. It was adopted shortly after release, in 1952, as the official watch of the Association of Aircraft Owners and Pilots (AOPA), which gave permission for its logo to appear on the watch’s dial.
Now the legendary model is making a very welcome, and incredibly exclusive, return, as Breitling pays tribute to the original Navitimer AOPA. The certified self-winding chronograph will be limited to just 500 pieces, each featuring the AOPA logo upon the black dial, making it a must-have item for any horological aficionado or aviation enthusiast. Interestingly, and rather generously, a portion of all the proceeds from each commemorative watch sold will be donated to the Breitling Aviation Scholarship Fund, allowing AOPA to develop the next generation of pilots.
Sporting a self-winding high frequency movement, the 25-jewel Navitimer AOPA operates at 28,800vph. The chronograph is water resistant to a depth of 3 bars, with a 42mm diameter case that also houses chronographic dials displaying 1/4th second, 30 minutes and 12 hour indicators. The dial itself is encased in a cambered sapphire crystal, which is glare-proofed on both front and back, and comes complete with an aperture through which the calendar date can be displayed.
Breitling are renowned for providing many possibilities for customised wristwatches, and so this timepiece has been made available with either a leather strap or the traditional Navitimer bracelet, suitably sturdy for a chronograph which weights almost 80gr, with an overall thickness of 14.60mm. The bezel itself, as previously noted, is a bi-directional slide rule specifically crafted in order to make easy the calculations of those in flight.
In reinterpreting their classic, Breitling have opted for an engraved case-back, again depicting the logo of the AOPA, which only serves to strengthen the bond between the two, particularly in this, the 75th year of operation for the association.
Here at Banks Lyon, we can’t think of a finer way to honour the heritage of this spectacular timepiece. While the limited edition Navitimer AOPA is currently unavailable, we can offer our customers a range of equally handsome Bretiling watches, including those in the Breitling Navitimer watch collection. Should any of these timepieces take your fancy, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01524 38 48 58.
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