The original Breitling Navitimer is probably the most specific, in terms of purpose and function, of all pilot’s watches, but the term covers what’s actually a fairly diverse range of timepieces. The chronograph is strongly identified with aviation (to a significant extent, this is thanks to Breitling) but pilot’s watches can certainly be highly accurate time-only watches intended to aid in navigation (often with shielding against magnetic fields) and the category can include GMT and two time-zone watches as well. Some of the most distinctive watches ever made were pilot’s watches, including the Longines-Weems Second-Setting watch, and the Longines Hour-Angle. Like its brother-in-arms, the diver’s watch, the days of a pilot’s watch as an essential piece of gear in the cockpit are past; navigation today is a matter of GPS satellites and radar. But like diver’s watches, pilot’s watches still appeal, because the virtues of the world to which they are connected – bravery, the manifestation of hard-won skills, coolness under pressure – remain universally compelling. Behind every pilot’s watch is a dream of being, as they say, “a natural-born stick-and-rudder man.”
Which brings us to the Breitling Navitimer 8 B01 Chronograph. As any student of aviation watches knows, Breitling probably has more street cred as an aviation supplier than any other single watch manufacturer. The company started making cockpit instruments in its “Huit Aviation” department in the 1930s – its first aviation chronograph was made in 1936 (a black-dial model with radium hands and numerals). The first Chronomat, with a slide-rule bezel for general calculations, was produced in 1940 and of course, in 1952, the most famous of Breitling’s pilot watches was introduced: the Navitimer, with a bezel that’s essentially a miniaturized version of the E6B circular slide-rule flight computer (nicknamed the “whiz wheel” or “prayer wheel” by pilots) the first version of which was introduced all the way back in 1933.
For the full review, go to: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/breitling-navitimer-8-b01-chrongraph-review
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Cant agree with others in the comment section. I like this new design way more than the “normal” navitimer. Besides, you could still buy the “normal” one, so why complain about the navitimer 8?
Hodinkee has gone so geeky it’s trying to change things up with videos like Time and Tide to communicate adventure. Doesn’t work. I was bored from the beginning. Hodinkee will never be James Bond cool.
I think it looks really nice. The Navitimer name doesn’t really matter to me, it’s just looks like a good watch and of course the looks are a matter of taste. Breitling build quality is always impeccable and the B01 movement hasn’t ever let me down. It’s robust and resistant to “mistakes” that would break other chronograph of date complication watches. I do believe the B01 movement was actually released in 2009, not 2013, as I own a Transocean Chronograph from 2009 which uses this movement.
Not too bad for a Kickstarter watch
I don’t agree with the popular opinion on this one. I think this actually a COOL watch. It’s just the 8k. For that price you need to be getting a whole lot more than just cool. Just my opinion
Why in the world would they put Navitimer on that dial ! Should’ve called it a new model with its own name! RIP Breitling
What a ridiculous premise on which to base a watch review.
Breitling has just become an abomination of a brand. Wouldn’t consider them if they were a third their price.
1000000$ Question: What’s up with that bezel?
Beautiful Breitling Navitimer 8 B01 Chronograph and nice airplane
might as well buy a nomos
Doesn’t feel like an 8k watch to me.
People who like the old school design of the navitimer should check out the Sinn 903. Sinn secured the rights to produce the watches with the Navitimer design from Breitling. But were not allowed to use the name ‘Navitimer’…
Speedmaster,Daytona,Master Chronograph, El primero,Tudor chronograph,Heuer monaco….Any other chronographs I missed that you would take before this watch?
This watch isn’t for me but I loved the offer – “Tony, do you wanna try this watch on?” Classy touch to get a candid reaction…
RIP Breitling
It’s not a pilots watch. It’s a luxury watch made to look like a pilot watch. However I love the watch design.
Navitimer 46 blacksteel
It does look very nice. Nice blue dial with while subdials. I like the layout of the numbers and markers around the dial. Easy to read the time, and very well proportioned dial. But this just doesn’t feel like a Navitimer. Maybe they should have gone with a different name for this model. Like others have said in the comments, might as well get a Zenith El Primero or an IWC instead of this Breitling.
Pretentiousness (ie. flying in a private jet) doesn’t win anybody over. 1:21 there’s your answer about it’s usefulness as an aviation instrument. Oh, and 3:40 is total BS. Your audience would prefer it if you could actually be critical with the watches you review, or is this what journalism has become?
100% of Shitter watches can pass this “flight test.”
Look at was has become of breitling….
Does Hodinkee ever has any constructive criticism when it comes to watches ?
Lol you don’t have to take it to flight to exaggerate how cool it is. 10$ Casio watch will work in a cockpit I guarantee you.. worst hodinkee episode ever
Sad to see them move away from the original
I, too, would agree that this newer version of the navitimer is far less desirable than the previous versions. Th production quality of the episode is top notch as usual, though.
smells like a Breitling paid ad, it’s a SHITTER but not one word criticism in the entire vid, thumbs DOWN
Jack thinks that watch is dogshit
At least A Blog to Watch is transparent when it’s a paid advertisement.
Blue is better, this looks pretty crap tbh