The Breitling Navitimer is quite possibly the most famous pilot’s watch of all time. It was developed by the Swiss watchmaker in collaboration with the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), launching in 1952. Almost a century later, it remains one of the few available-to-the-public pilot’s watches that is actually used in the cockpit by aviators.
Its famous circular slide rule bezel allows pilots to make on-the-go calculations for planning their flight; we’re talking flight time, fuel consumption, distance, airspeed, ascent and descent and even currency conversion. Now all this may not be necessary to someone like you or me that rarely leaves the ground, unless it’s for those odd few holidays during the summer, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to own a pilot’s watch with a great story behind it.
Breitling Navitimer 32 and 36. Credit: Breitling.
For a long time, the Breitling Navitimer collection was home to predominantly 40mm and above cases, which makes a lot of sense, since pilot’s watches need to be sturdy and legible. But it did mean those of us with smaller wrists had a hard time pulling the Breitling Navitimer off. That was until Breitling launched the 36mm and 32mm references in the autumn of 2023. Both examples are stunning in more ways than one, but personally, the Navitimer 36 takes the cake for me.
Breitling Navitimer 36
Since there’s a lot less room on the 32mm model, it ends up forgoing the slide rule for a clean time-only dial. The 36mm reference, on the other hand, maintains both the unmistakable beaded bezel and circular slide rule in a compact case size. It feels like the perfect compromise between size and functionality.
Breitling Navitimer 32 and 36. Credit: Breitling.
36mm wide and 11.4mm thick, the Breitling Navitimer 36 is sized to be a GADA (go anywhere, do anything) watch. Much of the case specifications signal it as a dress watch; it has a slim height, brightly polished surfaces and comes in stainless steel or 18ct rose gold on a selection of alligator leather or five-link metal straps. Its 300-metre water resistance suggests otherwise though, and its beaded bezel is a reminder of the design’s history, mimicking the ratcheting finishing on the original 1960’s Navitimer in a more ornate way.
Breitling Navitimer 36. Credit: Breitling.
Beneath sapphire crystal glass, the Breitling Navitimer 36 arrives in a stunning range of dial colours; silver, slate-grey, mother of pearl, or my personal favourite, mint green. Breitling has clearly chosen these colours so not to deter any specific gender or set of tastes. They’ve rather cleverly selected hues that suit almost everyone and offered just a few models with diamond dot indices.
Breitling Navitimer 36. Credit: Breitling.
Each dial is surrounded by the Navitimer’s famous circular slide rule. It’s bi-directional rotating and as mentioned in the introduction, can be used to make a variety of calculations. Hopefully those that own it learn how to use it properly, because it’s an ingenious piece of technology that’s cool to show off to friends as the bare minimum. It’s red markings, which match the tip of the seconds hand, add a touch of sporty, aviation-inspired personality to the design.
Breitling Navitimer 36. Credit: Breitling.
- Regular price
- £68.00
- Regular price
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- Sale price
- £68.00
- Unit price
- per
- Regular price
- £68.00
- Regular price
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- Sale price
- £68.00
- Unit price
- per
- Regular price
- £68.00
- Regular price
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- Sale price
- £68.00
- Unit price
- per
Housed inside the Breitling Navitimer 36 watch is the B17 automatic winding calibre based on the tried-and-tested ETA 2824-2. It delivers a classic time-only display, with the hours and minute hands adorned with thin strips of Super-LumiNova, a power reserve of 38 hours, a total of 26 jewels and a frequency of 28,800vph. Sadly, the movement isn’t put on display through the case back, but then again, the watch’s 300 metre water resistant rating does make up for this.
Breitling Navitimer 36. Credit: Breitling.
I’ve been preaching for a while now that we need more 36mm watches – you can read as to why in this article here - but the Breitling Navitimer 36 is a good example of that. It caters to every gender, wrist size and taste and is one of those designs that looks just as good as an evening dress watch as a day-to-day pilot’s watch. I think that’s what I like about it most; anyone uninterested in watches will just see the Navitimer 36 as a good-looking dress watch but those with knowledge of the Navitimer’s history will understand the importance of the technology within.
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: Breitling
- Model: Navitimer 36
- Price: Starts from £4,350
- Material: Stainless steel
- Movement: Calibre B17, automatic winding
- Complications: Hours, minutes and seconds
- Dial: Silver, slate-grey, mother of pearl or mint green
- Size: 36mm wide, 11.4mm thick
- When the reviewer would personally wear it: I’d comfortably wear this as a go anywhere, do anything watch. It has the robustness to survive day to day life but a dressy aesthetic worthy of formal occasions.
- A friend we’d recommend it to first: Someone with small wrists with an appreciation for the Navitimer.
- Best characteristics of the watch: I’m so pleased they kept the circular slide rule bezel within the smaller case size.
- The worst characteristics of the watch: An in-house movement from Breitling would have been nice, but that would have also put the price up.
