Why the Breitling Navitimer Is the Smartest Chronograph (+ Top References)

The Breitling Navitimer is widely considered one of the most iconic pilot watches ever produced. Introduced in 1952, the Breitling Navitimer was designed as a functional aviation instrument, combining a chronograph with a circular slide rule bezel that allows pilots to perform calculations during flight. Long before digital flight computers existed, the Breitling Navitimer helped aviators calculate fuel consumption, airspeed, climb rates, and distance directly from the wrist. In this video, we explore the Breitling Navitimer history, explain how the slide rule bezel works, examine the modern Breitling Navitimer B01 movement, and analyze Breitling Navitimer price trends on the secondary market. We also look at sizing, wearability, and whether buying a pre-owned Breitling Navitimer is a smart decision for collectors in 2026. 0:00 Intro 0:42 Why the Navitimer Matters 1:18 The Analog Computer 2:25 AOPA and Space History 3:50 The B01 Movement 5:10 Market Value and Pricing 7:05 Wearability and Sizing 7:43 Final Verdict Breitling Navitimer History and the Analog Flight Computer Every Breitling Navitimer functions as a mechanical computing instrument. In the early 1950s, Willy Breitling adapted the Chronomat design for aviation use by integrating a circular slide rule based on the E6B flight computer used by pilots. By rotating the outer scale of the bezel, pilots could perform calculations such as fuel burn rate, ground speed, rate of climb, and distance traveled. Aligning the sca