about the Breitling Navitimer Chrono-Matic (fromMono-Chrome)

The most legendary model among the aviator watches is certainly theBreitling Navitimer, a chronograph with an integrated flight computer, whichturned 65 in 2017. Pilots from all around the world are still using theNavitimer. Many Air Forces are even using it as regular equipment for theirpilots.

The Breitling Navitimer is an evolution of the 1942 BreitlingChronomat, with its typical slide rule bezel. Breitling decided to improve thishighly practical bezel and in 1952, the ‘Navi’ was born. This slide rule bezelwas used to calculate complicated operations without any other tool. Breitlingasked the mathematician Marcel Robert to create a slide rule bezel that couldperform complex logarithmic calculations. He created a scale with the 3 mostimportant units for pilots: STAT for standard mileage, KM for kilometres andNAUT for nautical miles. This on-the-wrist computer allowed pilots to calculatefuel consumptions, average speeds or climbing speeds.

In 1952, the very first Navitimer adorned the “Aircraft Owners andPilots Association” (AOPA) emblem on its dial (the typical double-wing logo)and by 1960, a real cooperation with the AOPA began. The “Navitimer” name isthe contraction of “navigation” and “timer”. The first edition to be sold wasthe reference 806, powered by a manual chronograph movement with column wheelmechanism, the Venus 178.

The Caliber 11 / 12:

The last gap towards modernity was the introduction of an automaticchronograph movement. And the solution came in 1969. The man behind thedevelopment of this new calibre was Gérald Dubois, who was working for Dépraz& Cie (now famous with the name Dubois Dépraz). Using a base calibre fromBuren (a thin automatic movement with a micro-rotor), Dubois worked togetherwith Jack Heuer and Willy Breitling to develop this brand new idea of anautomatic chronograph. And that cooperation led to the creation of a modularchronograph mechanism, added on the top of the Buren calibre (for that reason,the integrated micro-rotor is invisible). The legendary Calibre 11 was born.

One very unique feature of this movement is its left-positioned crown(the pushers are, as usual, located on the right side of the case). Theintroduction of this movement changed massively the face of the Navitimer thatmoved from a tri-compax layout to a bi-compax with date at 6 o’clockconfiguration. It was during the 1970s that the brand introduced the “friedegg”, a massive 48mm watch (reference 1806).

 VintageBreitling Navitimer Chrono-Matic 1806 DDE.BR.11525/67 Circa 1969

This is a vintage c. 1969 stainless steel Breitling NavitimerChrono-Matic DDE.BR.11525/67. an acrylic crystal. It has round chronograph pushbuttons, a screw down signed winding crown, and a corrector at 9 o'clock on theright-side case band. It includes a screw down case back engraved with"BREITLING – ANTI-MAGNETIC - SHOCK RESISTANT – STAINLESS STEEL – SWISSMADE - AUTOMATOC," and a Breitling "B" logo. The 48mm diametersolid three-body case, straight lugs, bracelet, and knurled bezel, arepolished/brushed. The bidirectional black rotating bezel adjusts thecalculation rule under the crystal. The dial is black with applied facetedluminous steel baton hour indices around a white minute/second scale. Aroundthe perimeter are three black and then white slide rule scales. It has twinrecessed silver subsidiary dials with black Arabic numerals, markers, andblack/orange indicator hands, including a 12-hour chronograph totalizer at 9o'clock, and there is a 30-minute chronograph totalizer at the 3 o'clockposition. There are steel baton hands with white luminous fill, and it has awedge-shaped orange center sweep seconds chronograph hand. It has a 42-hourpower reserve at full winding, it's water resistant to 30 meters/100 feet, andthe 13mm thick case, dial, and movement are all signed.

This Breitling Navitimer Chrono-Matic DDE.BR.11525/67 has a mechanicalautomatic self-winding Breitling caliber 11 chronograph movement. It's rhodiumplated, and it's constructed with 17 jewels, an Incabloc anti-shock system, andan index regulator. It includes a Breguet hairspring, and a straight-line leverescapement. It has a self-compensating flat balance spring, a micro-rotorhoused in the basic movement, and the mechanism oscillates at a frequency of19,800 vph (2.75 Hz).

The Breitling Navitimer Chrono-Matic DDE.BR.11525/67 was introduced in1969. The caliber 11 movement was the first automatic chronograph movement; itwas developed in a joint venture of Heuer, Breitling, Buren, and Dubois-Duprez.

This is a beauty and a very rare Breitling Navitimer 1806 with Double Jet dial. Defiantly a collector watch. Please look at all the pictures, as they arepart of the description. The watch is working, keeps great time and is part of our new Certified Pre-Owned CPO Program. This is a highlycollectible watch. Very few left with this rare movement. Sure, to increase invalue overtime, and a great addition to your collection. The condition of thewatch is the same as it appears in the photos. The watch is working.  Contact meif you have any questions first.