Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute Chronograph

About the Watch

In 1952, the AOPA, a prestigious US association for aircraft owners and pilots, approached Willy Breitling to design a new chronograph for their members. Breitling decided to create an innovative wrist-worn instrument that would enable pilots to perform all necessary flight calculations, such as average speed, distance traveled, fuel consumption, rate of climb or descent, and conversion of miles to kilometers or nautical miles. At the time, these calculations required a logarithmic slide rule. Therefore, Breitling adapted the original logarithmic slide rule of the 1940s Chronomat for aviation purposes and integrated it into a rotating bezel surrounded by small beads, making it easier to manipulate. The watch case had a diameter of 41 millimeters, which was considered large at the time, ensuring that all the information displayed on the dial was easy to read. Oversized Arabic numerals filled with radium contrasted efficiently with the black dial, enhancing the readability. Breitling named the watch "Navitimer," which was a combination of "navigation" and "timer." Upon its release, the Navitimer was an instant success among the AOPA's members.

About the Brand

Breitling is one of the most famous luxury watch companies in the world. Its iconic “B” logo with wings surrounding it is well-known and closely associated with the world of aviation just like its history. It's Chronomat and Navitimer models way well be some of the most well-known models coming out of Switzerland. Breitling was founded in 1884 in St. Imier, Switzerland by Léon Breitling. The company has a long history of creating chronographs for use in science, sports and industry. In 1892, the brand moved to larger premises in La Chaux-de-Fonds.