Introducing The Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 North America Limited Edition

The Breitling Navitimer was introduced in 1952 and since then, it has appeared in just about every design variation you can imagine, although the version most of us think of when we think of the model has a black dial with white subdials, along with the circular slide rule bezel. Today, Breitling’s announced a new version – the new Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Limited Edition is as the name says, a 300 piece limited edition for North America, featuring, of course, the slide rule bezel, as well as a silver dial, black subdials, and a custom strap.

This is a very handsome take on what’s perhaps Breitling’s most iconic watch. The layout has the chronograph 30 minute counter at 3:00 and the 12 hour counter at 6:00, with the running seconds at 9:00, and the chronograph timing hands, including the center seconds hand, are all in red, as is the red 10 on the inner bezel (the unit index marker) as well as other bezel details specific to aviation calculations. In keeping with the B01 chronograph’s overall layout, the date is in the 12 hour subdial at the 6:00 position, where it’s easily readable if you need it and where it also blends in well enough with the overall design to not interfere with the symmetry of the dial.

The Navitimer’s slide rule bezel is based on the circular slide rule E6B calculator, which was originally developed as a navigation aid in the 1930s.

Both the E6B and the Navitimer bezel can be used to calculate critical information, such as time over distance, fuel consumption, distance over time, and so on. The Navitimer bezel can of course also be used for basic calculations, like multiplication and division. Over the years, I’ve had an opportunity to check in with pilots in general, commercial, and military aviation and there is a small but loyal group of Navitimer owners who actually use the slide rule bezel as it was intended to be used when Breitling launched the model back in the 1950s. The bezel is not difficult to use –for detailed instructions, check out our story, “The Aspiring Pilot’s Guide To Using The Breitling Navitimer Slide Rule Bezel,” which gives you a step by step walk-through.

The caliber B01 is a column wheel controlled, vertical clutch, COSC certified chronometer chronograph movement, with a 70 hour power reserve. It’s a very sturdy and reliable movement, and extremely accurate in everyday use, as you’d expect in a watch with an air navigation heritage. It’s a time tested caliber at this point as well, having been introduced by Breitling in 2009, and it was developed and is produced in-house at Breitling Chronométrie, in Le Locle, Switzerland.

The watch is being delivered on a custom brown alligator strap as well. This is a great looking version of one of the most important aviation watches of the 20th century and if you favor chronographs with real heritage as daily drivers, an excellent choice – especially if you drive an airplane, or just want to feel like you do.

The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 North America Limited Edition: case, stainless steel, 43mm, 30M water resistant, with sapphire crystals front and back; engraved with limited edition number. Movement, Breitling chronograph caliber B01, COSC certified chronometer, vertical clutch and column wheel controlled, running at 28,800 vph with a 70 hour power reserve. 5 year warranty. Price at launch, $10,300 USD or $12,400 CAD.

The 1916 Company is proud to be an authorized retailer for Breitling; see the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 North America Limited Edition right here.