The hand-wind Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute Ref. A12322 is one of the coolest Breitling Navitimers out there. It is the last in the line of manual hand-wound Cosmonautes featuring the B12 Caliber Movement, and also has the 24-hour dial that, while harder to read and mentally process, is just so darn awesome. I’ve been wanting one of these for quite some time, and when a friend decided to sell his I took the opportunity to add to the herd.

This one is the classic black dial with white subdials with the tri-compax layout. It also came mounted on a dark brown Breitling Strap, but it was quite worn so I purchased a BOB strap to put on there in a tan/saddle brown. The B12 Caliber movement does not have a date, but does have a Chronograph complication in addition to the 24hr dial. On days when I just want a super-complicated looking dial, this watch fits the bill in every way!

The sapphire crystal, like most modern Navitimers, is domed and AR-coated showing a bluish hue. The seconds subdial is located at 9 o’clock (based on 12 hour dial, not this 24 dial of course!), the Chronograph Minutes at 3 o’clock and Chronograph Hours at 6 o’clock. The pushers operate as normal with the start/stop at the top and the reset at the bottom.

The case measures the original standard Navitimer 41.5mm, same diameter as the Old Navitimer and other original models. Newer models like the Navitimer 01 feature larger 43mm cases. The lug width is 22mm, like most Navitimers as has a 14.25mm thick case – much thinner than most Navi’s because the manual winding B12 movement does not have a rotor.

The caseback is the classic Breitling Navitimer style, with the COSC engraving on it. This model was one of the latest sold roughly from 2001-2002, that featured the manual winding COSC Caliber B12 before this watch was discontinued, and is quite rare to get in this configuration. The majority of these watches found on the secondary market are Pre-COSC.

This is a unique and very collectible Breitling that will be unlikely to be ever released again, especially with the Breitling Cosmonaute being released a couple times in a 43mm version with the handwind in-house B02 movement.

Specs:
Model: Cosmonaute (Lemania)
Production Years: 1992-2001
Gender: Mens
Case Materials Available: Steel, 18k
Movement: Breitling 12
Power Reserve: 42 Hours
Water Resistance: 30m
Bezel: Bidirectional
Crown: Push-Down
Crystal: Sapphire
Diameter: 41.5mm
Thickness: 13.3mm
Weight: 69.8g
Bracelet: Navitimer
Lug Width: 22mm

Navitimer 01 Panamerican

Breitling has released a new dial face for the Breitling Navitimer dubbed the Navitimer Panamerican, in stunning bronze. This will be a very limited production of 1000 pieces. In addition to the dial color, the watch will feature a transparent caseback so you can see the 01 movement. Cool. See below the press release from Breitling:

The new face of the legend
Iconic in its classic version with a black dial, the famous Navitimer adopts even more exclusive colors in a limited series featuring a magnificent bronze dial.

Created in 1952, the Navitimer is not only the doyenne of all mechanical chronographs produced worldwide. With its technical and functional style, this instrument unique in its kind has asserted itself as one of the ten great 20th century watchmaking classics – and a cult object for all passionate aviation enthusiasts. Breitling offers this legendary model in a 1,000-piece limited series distinguished by a bronze-colored dial – an original and refined touch that further highlights the originality of the design with its three hollowed counters and its circular slide rule designed to perform all calculations involved in airborne navigation. A transparent caseback provides a chance to admire the Manufacture Breitling Caliber 01, a high-performance selfwinding chronograph entirely developed and produced within the Breitling Chronométrie workshops and chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute) – the highest benchmark in terms of precision and reliability, and the only one based on an international standard.

See the watch on Breitling’s site.

Breitling launched the long awaited two new XL sized Navitimers with in-house B01 and B04 movements, the Navitimer GMT and the Navitimer 01 46MM. Presumably, the Navitimer GMT will replace the Navitimer World eventually. GREAT moves from Breitling.. thes two pieces are much anticipated!

An icon in great shape
Breitling begins a new chapter in the epic saga of its famous Navitimer aviation chronograph by launching a reinterpretation of the classic model in a larger diameter, as well as a travel version featuring revolutionary user friendliness. These two new variations on a legendary watch are both equipped with high-performance chronometer-certified Manufacture Breitling movements.

In 1952, Breitling created a ‘wrist instrument’ purpose-built for pilots and other aviation professionals. Equipped with a circular slide rule, the Navitimer serves to handle all calculations relating to airborne navigation. This chronograph unique in its kind and featuring an ultra-technical, original yet elegant design, soon established itself as the most iconic Breitling model and a cult object for all passionate aeronautical enthusiasts. A gilt-edged security. Produced without interruption for over 60 years, this fabled watch is also the doyenne of all mechanical chronographs worldwide – and one of the ten great 20th century watchmaking classics.

Navitimer 46 mm: a larger-than-life take on the legend
New size, new power: the classic Navitimer now appears in a larger 46 mm diameter – an XL look that enhances its presence on the wrist and accentuates the originality of its design while optimizing its readability. These generous dimensions further highlight the famous black dial produced using the “épargne” technique against a pure silver background – a method ensuring excellent readability and stunning radiance. The Navitimer 46 mm is also available with a blue dial featuring tone-on-tone counters. A transparent caseback provides a chance to admire Manufacture Breitling Caliber 01, probably the world’s finest automatic chronograph movement, entirely developed and produced in the Breitling Chronométrie workshops and chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute) – the highest benchmark in terms of precision and reliability, and the only one based on an international norm. This larger-than-life take on the legend is fitted with a choice between a steel bracelet and a leather or crocodile strap. It also comes in a 200-piece red gold limited edition with a black dial.

Navitimer GMT: timezone ace
A trustworthy companion of airborne adventurers, the Navitimer has always viewed the world as its playground. The new Navitimer GMT confirms this vocation. Breitling decided to think big in creating this chronograph with a traveller’s soul. User friendliness is guaranteed by the ingenious Manufacture Breitling Caliber B04, clearly visible through the transparent caseback and equipped with a dual timezone system boasting peerless functionality: simply pulling out the crown and turning it forwards or backwards in one-hour increments enables instant setting of the travel timezone date and hour – while maintaining a home-time display in 24-hour mode and without losing any precision in terms of the minutes. The large-format steel case with its imposing 48 mm diameter frames a perfectly readable instrument panel. The new Navitimer GMT comes with two faces – a classic dial in black with silver counters or an all silver version – and may be fitted with a steel bracelet or a leather or crocodile strap. It is also available in a 200-piece red gold limited edition with a black dial.

It was only a matter of time – Breitling would be launching a Blacksteel Cosmonaute that looks awesome with its all-black dial and subdials to go with the brushed blacksteel case. Breitling’s successful Blacksteel watches have now invaded the Navitimers! When it was revealed at Basel, the watch was mounted on a Ocean Racer rubber strap, which I’m not sure if I personally liked the presentation. Perhaps with the inevitability of the Navitimer Blacksteels to come, they should make a blacksteel oriented strap or bracelet that suites the Navis.

From Breitling:

“Intersidereal darkness

The first spacegoing wrist chronograph enters a new orbit with an exclusive and technical all-black version issued in a worldwide 1,000-piece limited series.

On May 24th 1962, Lt Commander Scott Carpenter orbited the earth three times aboard the Aurora 7 capsule. On his wrist was a Navitimer featuring a 24-hour graduation serving to distinguish day from a night – an absolute necessity in space. This space conquest pioneer joined the Breitling collections under the name Cosmonaute. 50 years after its first flight in 2012, the Navitimer Cosmonaute is pursuing its odyssey in a new and highly original version featuring a case in black steel created using a highly resistant carbon-based coating. The dial and counters of this high-performance chronograph are in the same black color, enhanced by luminescent indications and small red hands. The Manufacture Breitling Caliber B02, chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute) features two key characteristics true to the original model: a manual winding system and a 24-hour display.The famous Navitimer circular slide rule enables pilots to perform the entire range of calculations relating to airborne navigation directly on the wrist. The engraved caseback bears the official Aurora 7 mission insignia. Issued in a numbered 1,000- piece limited series, the Navitimer Cosmonaute Blacksteel is fitted with a black rubber strap further enhancing its tech-savvy, masculine appearance.”

Navitimer Blue Sky Limited Edition 60th anniversary

Breitling celebrates the legendary Navitimer’s 60 years in flight

To mark the 60th anniversary of the Navitimer chronograph, the cult model among pilots and aviation enthusiasts, Breitling is introducing a 500-piece limited edition with an elegant dial in an exclusive shade of blue and aptly named the Navitimer Blue Sky.

In 1952, Breitling – already a firm fixture among aeronautical professionals – decided to create a new “wrist instrument” specifically designed with aviators in mind. The result was the Navitimer with its famous circular slide rule providing simple and fast handling of all calculations relating to airborne navigation: an authentic wristworn instrument panel. In an era preceding the advent of electronic calculators, this model unique in its kind was soon adopted by many pilots for flight preparation and monitoring – whether it came to calculating average speed, distance covered, fuel consumption or rates of ascent and descent. The only authentic aviation chronograph in widespread use, it was naturally chosen as the official watch by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the largest of its kind in the world and of which the logo often appears on models from the 1950s and 1960s. The Navitimer features a functional design and a highly original technical yet elegant look that is recognizable at first glance. It thus established itself as one of the ten great 20th century watchmaking classics, a timeless benchmark in its field and a reliable value. Continuously made since 1952, while remaining loyal to the aesthetic of the original, it is the world’s oldest mechanical chronograph still in production.

A handsomely stylish limited edition

To celebrate its 60 years in flight, the favorite watch among aviation enthusiasts is now available in a 500-piece steel limited edition with a magnificent blue dial, a silver inner bezel and a red central chronograph seconds hand. A handsomely stylish new face for the most emblematic Breitling model. A transparent caseback affords a chance to admire Manufacture Breitling Caliber 01, the best selfwinding chronograph movement. The series number is engraved on the case middle at 9 o’clock, and the color match is reinforced by an exclusive dark blue crocodile leather strap. The Navitimer Blue Sky Limited Edition 60th anniversary is also available on the Navitimer bracelet – or the highly original perforated Air Racer bracelet.

Navitimer: the legend lives on.