The story
Breitling’s iconic pilot’s chronograph – for the journey. Since making its debut in 1952, the Navitimer has been a favorite amongst aviators and trendsetters alike. In celebration of the 70th anniversary of this legendary timepiece, the Swiss watchmaker Breitling has partnered with the Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific to introduce the Navitimer B01 Cathay Pacific Limited Edition. Available only as 200 individually numbered pieces, this new timepiece conveys the bold and free spirit of aviation. The Navitimer is one of the most recognizable watches ever made, because of its circular slide rule, baton indexes, trio of chronograph counters and notched bezel for easy grip. These signature features are more than appealing embellishments as they offer exceptional functions as well. The circular slide rule is a revolutionary invention that enables pilots to handle calculations related to airborne navigation, such as average speed, distance covered, fuel consumption and rate of climb. As the de facto pilots’ watch since the early days of civil aviation, the original Navitimer featured the winged logo of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the largest aviators’ club in the world, emblazoned at 12 o’clock. In this latest generation Navitimer, these design features continue to shine, demonstrating the heritage of this timeless masterpiece. This unique collaboration between Cathay Pacific and Breitling retains the signature design details of the Navitimer, while featuring a dial in Cathay Pacific’s signature jade color and a caseback engraved with the words “Cathay Pacific Edition” and its individual number out of 200. The open-caseback view provides a window on the COSC-certified Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01. Enhanced with 43 mm diameter steel case and a brown alligator leather strap, the co-branded timepiece expresses a distinct style and subtle flair.