Breitling remains one of the few independent Swiss watch manufacturers and they are masters at what they do.
Key Features
The Navitimer 01 is water-resistant up to 30 metres, and it comes with a five-year warranty from the manufacturer. Like most other Breitling watch models, there is a number of strap choices including black leather, steel bracelet or rubber. It is secured with a traditional black leather strap with a pin and buckle fastening. The Navitimer 01 is a really reliable watch that consistently delivers the highest performance. It has a steel case and classy black face with silver chronograph dials. The face is 43mm in diameter and is glare-proof so it can be easily read even in the brightest conditions. It also has distinctive red second hands. There is an alternative red gold edition for something truly special. The chronograph element of the timepiece makes it a very accurate watch, as it combines a traditional wristwatch with a stopwatch function. The most basic version has an independent sweeping second hand that can be started, stopped and reset at the push of a button. The chronograph works automatically and beats at 28,800 VpH. More complicated versions might have more than one independent hand, so hours, minutes, seconds and even tenths of seconds can be measured separately, making them extremely useful at calculating speed and distance.
The watch incorporates a bi-directional slide rule bezel ring around the face, allowing the wearer to make all sorts of mathematical calculations, including average speed or even currency conversion. This is part of the reason it has become so legendary with the military in both the UK and the USA.
For added reliability, the Navitimer 01 has a power reserve of at least 70 hours. It has changed very little since its launch sixty years ago, which is testament to the quality of design.