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Breitling unveils new editions of the iconic Navitimer

• The Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute and Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 join the brand’s core collection. • A pilot’s watch featuring a circular slide rule and a chronograph; it has served aviators and been modified for spaceflight. • Both the models feature the Twin Jet logo and are powered by in-house hand-wound chronograph movements. • They encompass a total of 6 references.

What is the new Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute and the Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41?

Breitling’s Navitimer has its roots in 1952. Developed as a tool for pilots, its circular slide rule and chronograph enabled “pilots to perform calculations with the twist of a bezel and track elapsed time at the press of a pusher.” A decade later, the brand modified the Navitimer for spaceflight at the request of Scott Carpenter, one of the original seven astronauts from NASA’s Mercury program.

The Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute (header image) and the Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 join the brand’s core collection.

“The Navitimer has always evolved with the people who wear it. The B09 brings the look and feel of the classic 1960s Navitimer into the modern collection, and the Cosmonaute tells the story of how the Navitimer went from the cockpit to space. These modern-retro pieces show just how much history is built into the Navitimer collection.” – Georges Kern, CEO of House of Brands.

Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute

Breitling Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute and the Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41.
Image: The circular slide rule bezel is a defining characteristic of the Navitimer. Notice the Twin Jet logo at 12 o’clock and the discreet date at 6 o’clock. The 24-hour display enables astronauts (or cosmonauts) “a practical way to measure time beyond the cycle of day and night.” It became the first Swiss watch to travel to space when Scott Carpenter wore it aboard Aurora 7, the fourth manned mission of NASA’s Mercury programme on May 24, 1962.

Dial: Black reverse panda dial. White subdials and flange. The hour and minute hands, Arabic numerals (24-hour display), and indices are coated with Super-LumiNova. Case: Made from stainless steel, measuring 41 mm (diameter) * 13 mm (thickness). Lug-to-lug distance is 47.09 mm. The bidirectional bezel is made from stainless steel. The dial side features a domed sapphire crystal, glare-proofed on both sides. The screwed-in stainless steel caseback features a sapphire crystal. Water resistant up to 3 bar or approximately 30 metres. Strap/Bracelet options: A brown calf-leather strap fitted with a stainless steel folding buckle or a 7-row stainless steel bracelet.

Breitling Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute and the Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41.
Image: Breitling has significant chronograph expertise, an important aspect that they can share with the House of Brand’s members, Universal Genève and Gallet.

Movement: Powered by Breitling Manufacture Calibre B02, a hand-wound chronograph movement featuring a column wheel and a vertical clutch. It drives the central hours and minutes, small seconds (9 o’clock) and chronograph functions: central 1/4th seconds, 30-minute counter (3 o’clock) and 12-hour counter (6 o’clock), and date (6 o’clock). It measures 30 mm (diameter) * 6.83 mm (thickness), comprises 273 parts and 39 jewels, beats at a modern frequency of 4 Hz or 28,800 vph, and delivers a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. The movement is COSC-certified.

Name: Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Reference: AB0230211B1X1 (version with leather strap) Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 9,350 (includes VAT) Reference: AB0230211B1A1 (version with stainless-steel bracelet) Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 9,650 (includes VAT) Warranty: 5 years. Extendable up to an additional 3 years since the model features a Breitling Manufacture movement. Click here and here to learn more.

Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41

Breitling Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute and the Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41.
Image: “Used by Breitling since 1957, the Twin Jet logo made its dial-side debut on the Navitimer in 1965. As the civilian counterpart to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) logo, which was used in the models retailed directly to their members. Its association with Breitling’s most recognizable watch eventually made it a defining part of the brand’s visual identity. Both the Navitimer B09 Chronograph and Navitimer B02 Cosmonaute feature the Twin Jet logo in gold, letting it stand out against a monochrome dial.”

Dial options: Black or blue reverse panda dial. Both dials have white subdials and flanges. The hour and minute hands, Arabic numeral (“12”), and indices are coated with Super-LumiNova. Case: Made from stainless steel, measuring 41 mm (diameter) * 13 mm (thickness). Lug-to-lug distance is 47.09 mm. The bidirectional bezel is made from stainless steel.  The dial side features a domed sapphire crystal, glare-proofed on both sides. The screwed-in stainless steel caseback features a sapphire crystal. Water resistant up to 3 bar or approximately 30 metres. Strap/Bracelet options: A brown calf-leather or a blue calf-leather strap fitted with a stainless steel folding buckle or a 7-row stainless steel bracelet.

Breitling Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute and the Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41.
Image: Calibre B09 is similar to the Calibre B02, except it does not feature a date indication.

Movement: Powered by Breitling Manufacture Calibre B09, a hand-wound chronograph movement featuring a column wheel and a vertical clutch. It drives the central hours and minutes, small seconds (9 o’clock) and chronograph functions: central 1/4th seconds, 30-minute counter (3 o’clock) and 12-hour counter (6 o’clock). It measures 30 mm (diameter) * 6.73 mm (thickness), comprises 244 parts and 34 jewels, beats at a modern frequency of 4 Hz or 28,800 vph, and delivers a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. The movement is COSC-certified.

 Name: Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 Reference: AB0950211B1X1 (version with black dial on leather strap) Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 6,900 (includes VAT) Reference: AB0950211B1A1 (version with black dial on stainless-steel bracelet) Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 7,250 (includes VAT) Reference: AB0950211C1X1 (version with blue dial on leather strap) Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 6,900 Reference: AB0950211C1A1 Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 7,250 Warranty: 5 years. Extendable up to an additional 3 years since the model features a Breitling Manufacture movement. Click here, here, here, and here to learn more.

What do we think?

Pilot’s watches are ubiquitous. Watch enthusiasts and collectors can often find it challenging to choose. The Breitling Navitimer stands out. A genuine pilot’s watch, it is mighty impressive. It can hold its own among chronographs costing 10 times or more.

Breitling Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute and the Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41.
Image: A horological icon. The blue dial reference of the “standard” model. 

Whether you choose the “standard version” or the “Cosmonaute,” you are getting an iconic, distinct design soaked in aviation and space heritage, powered by an in-house column-wheel chronograph movement, and offered at a competitive price. My personal favourite is the Cosmonaute on the brown calf-leather strap, or the standard version with a blue dial on the blue calf-leather strap.

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