The Breitling Navitimer 806 Twin Jet Watch

Posted by andrewpaul on April 12th, 2023

The breitling navitimer 806 twin jet is a great example of a classic pilots chronograph from one of the most famous brands in the world. It was designed by Willy Breitling for the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) in 1952 and it allowed pilots to do calculations such as average speed, fuel consumption, distance traveled, conversion of miles to kilometers and more on their wrists.

Originally the case size was 41 millimeters, making it a very large watch for its time and the dial of this version had a large outer calculator ring and oversized Arabic numerals. The Navitimer became an icon for Breitling and was used by many sportsmen in the early 1970s, including Formula 1 racing legends Graham Hill and James Clark.

I have found few site on the internet, with great selection of vintage watches. My favorite is ExpertsWatches.com.

These watches are now getting rarer and rarer in the vintage market, so if you are looking to buy an original example this could be the best option! This particular example is in excellent condition and it comes completely on a hand made Horween shell cordovan NATO watch strap.

It's not hard to see why this watch is so sought after by collectors - it is very well made and it has a classic design that still holds up today! It is also a really good bargain on the vintage market.

Another thing that is worth noting about these watches is the number of beads on the bezel. During the production period, they varied from 125 beads in the early 1950s to only 93 in 1960 and it is an easy way to date an early Navitimer.