Introducing The Breitling Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar ‘Ice Blue’

Breitling celebrated its 140th anniversary at Geneva Watch Days 2024, and the big news then was the debut of a new perpetual calendar chronograph movement – the caliber B19. Breitling had created perpetual calendar chronographs in the past, but its earlier models had relied on supplied movements and perpetual calendar modules and the B19 was the first in-house perpetual calendar chronograph that the company had launched in its 140 year history. The B19 debuted in three models – a Datora, a Navitimer, and a Chronomat, all in rose gold – and today Breitling’s announced the launch of a new Navitimer B19 perpetual calendar chronograph, in stainless steel, with a platinum bezel.

The Navitimer is probably the most iconic of all Breitling’s watches, and certainly it’s one of the most instantly recognizable, having been launched in 1952 with essentially all the features the Navitimer has today. The signature feature of the Navitimer is its slide rule bezel, which is a wristwatch-sized adaptation of the E6-B circular slide rule – an analog computer which can be used for a number of mission-critical calculations, including fuel consumption and distance covered at a given speed, as well as basic multiplication and division operations. (If you’re interested in how to use one, we covered operation of the Navitimer’s slide rule bezel last September in “The Aspiring Pilot’s Guide To Using The Navitimer Slide Rule Bezel.“)

The caliber B19 movement is the latest version of the in-house automatic chronograph caliber 01 – other versions include the 24 hour B02, the split seconds chronograph B03, and the B04 GMT. Movement design and assembly take place in La Chaux-de-Fonds, at Breitling Chronometrie.

The new B19 Navitimer perpetual calendar chronograph at first glance looks slightly more conventional than its rose gold predecessor, although the ice blue dial as well as the perpetual calendar indications make it clear that this isn’t a standard issue model. The 43mm case is stainless steel, but Breitling has also given this model another luxury touch – the bezel’s in platinum.

The B19 Navitimer Perpetual Calendar Chronograph “Ice Blue” is available at launch for $29,000 on a strap, and $29,500 on a seven row stainless steel bracelet. It’s a slightly stealthier take on the complication than the original 140th Anniversary rose gold limited edition, but if you’re into the complication and you were holding out for something a little less flashy but just as technically distinguished (and historically important for Breitling) the Ice Blue might be your kind of cool.

The Breitling Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar: Case, stainless steel with platinum bezel, 43mm x 14.94mm, 30 meters water resistance, with sapphire crystals front and back. Platinum bezel with circular slide rule. Movement, Breitling caliber B19, 30mm x 8.53mm, automatic perpetual calendar chronograph, column-wheel controlled with vertical clutch, running at 28,800 vph; 96 hour power reserve. Chronometer certified by the COSC. Price at launch, $29,000 on a black alligator strap with stainless steel butterfly clasp; $29,500 on a seven row bracelet. 

The 1916 Company is proud to be an authorized retailer for Breitling watches. View the Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar on a bracelet, and on an alligator strap.