Few watch lines can claim such a close connection to aviation history as Breitling's cornerstone Navitimer, and over the years, the Navitimer line has established deep ties with both military and civilian flight groups. In 2019, Breitling celebrated its long-standing connections with airlines by releasing a vintage aviation-themed capsule inspired by iconic aircraft from TWA, Pan Am, and Swissair.
In 2021, the brand revisits this concept inspired by the '60s and '70s, releasing a new Navitimer model paying homage to the commercial aviation giant American Airlines. Featuring a more refined, balanced color scheme and a reliable modern in-house movement, the new Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 American Airlines Limited Edition represents a natural evolution of the brand's airline capsule collection with a new appealing look.
The 43mm stainless steel case of the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 American Airlines Limited Edition is designed following the classic Navitimer formula, with piston pushers, tapered chamfered lugs, and the signature slide rule bezel with a coin-edge finish.
As with most Navitimer models, this piece is likely to appear large on the wrist, and the sapphire crystal covering the bezel scale provides an almost unobstructed view of the dial from above. The fully polished finish enhances the vintage feel, but the watch departs from the '70s visual theme thanks to the case back. Breitling equips the Navitimer with a sapphire window adorned with a variant of the classic American Airlines eagle logo, taking the watch in an interesting stylistic direction.
While the rest of the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 American Airlines Limited Edition heavily hints at the bright and bold visual elements of the late '60s and '70s, American Airlines used this emblem style only from 1945 to 1962, and the eagle itself hasn't faced left since the original emblem's debut in 1931. This slightly anachronistic altered logo design may be controversial among aviation enthusiasts, but its size and execution certainly add visual sharpness to the entire case. However, like other Navitimer models, the water resistance of this model remains a weak point: it is rated at only 30 meters.
Overall, the dial design of the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 American Airlines Limited Edition bears more than a fleeting family resemblance to the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Pan Am of 2019. Although the overall red-white-blue color scheme remains, the American Airlines model has significantly altered the proportions of these familiar colors for a cleaner and more cohesive look. The outer ring of the slide rule scale is done in a basic cool white color, and the bold fire-engine red color has been limited to the chronograph hands, baton tube, and key elements of the chronograph and slide rule scales.
Another important change is more subtle, but it significantly impacts the overall cleanliness of the design in photographs. While previous versions of the Navitimer airline capsule collection interspersed unique color schemes with deep black text on the dial, here all text is rendered in either medium blue or bright white. This small adjustment changes the design regarding the interaction between the white elements and the main surfaces, executed in bold matte medium blue, while potentially overly bright red tones are reserved for highlighting key information.
It's still a Navitimer, with all the visual complexity that usually entails, but these minor changes potentially have a huge impact on the sense of visual flow across all the numerous scales and subdials. The only exception to this more focused new color scheme is the date window at 4:30, which uses a starkly contrasting black date wheel.
The Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 American Airlines Limited Edition is powered by the in-house automatic B01 chronograph movement. Over the past few years, the B01 has become Breitling's flagship modern chronograph movement, and this mechanism boasts a solid list of features to justify its position. COSC-certified as a chronometer, the B01 uses a vertical clutch and column wheel in the chronograph complication and offers a substantial 70-hour power reserve at a rate of 28,800 beats per hour. The finish of the B01 is simple and beautiful, with a combination of Côtes de Genève, brushing, and sunburst textures. Breitling equips the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 American Airlines Limited Edition with either a brightly polished Milanese mesh bracelet or a classic cocoa-colored calf leather strap.
Developing the vibrant and playful style of the airline capsule collection with new focused execution and an impressive in-house powertrain, the new Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 American Airlines Limited Edition represents the most complete stylistic package of this sub-line.
Only 100 pieces of the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 American Airlines Limited Edition will be produced, with 75 pieces fitted with leather straps and 25 models with Milanese mesh bracelets. The watches are now exclusively available through official dealers in the US, priced at $8,650 on a leather strap or $9,350 with a Milanese bracelet. For more detailed information, visit the brand's website.