Swiss luxury watchmaker Breitling, famous for its chronographs and its strong link to aviation, has announced that its new pilot’s watch collection, the Navitimer 8, is now officially available in the Middle East.

The announcement was made at a VIP event in the brand’s Dubai Mall Boutique, where guests were able to view the new model up close.

The 8 in its name is a nod to the Huit Aviation Department, which was set up in 1938 to produce cockpit instruments as well as classic pilot’s watches for civilian and military use. At the time, Willy Breitling chose the name “Huit,” the French word for “eight,” as a reference to the eight-day power reserve offered by its storied cockpit instruments.
 
 “With the Navitimer 8, we are honouring not only our rich heritage but also our pioneering role in building chronographic instruments. But while the Navitimer 8 pays tribute to our past, it also does something considerably more important. It opens the door to a very exciting future,” said Georges Kern, Breitling’s CEO.

The Navitimer 8 family introduces five distinct models that are worthy heirs to watchmaking’s richest aviation tradition, drawing heavily on Breitling’s design DNA and the technical features of the first board clocks and pilot’s wristwatches as well as on the Huit Aviation Department’s commitment to quality.

Five members of the Navitimer 8 collection:

Navitimer 8 B01 Chronograph 43

The Navitimer 8 B01 Chronograph 43 is powered by the in-house Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01. The self-winding, 43-millimeter watch has a ratchet-wheel chronograph with vertical coupling and a power reserve of more than 70 hours.

The display features 30-minute and 12-hour counters and a date window. The highlight of this new range, the Navitimer 8 B01 Chronograph 43, is available in stainless steel with a black or blue dial, or in 18 k red gold with a bronze dial, each with the distinctive design elements of contrasting subdials. It is presented on a stainless steel bracelet or an alligator leather strap with a pin buckle. The COSC-certified chronometer has a transparent sapphire case back.

Navitimer 8 B35 Automatic Unitime 43

The Navitimer 8 B35 Automatic Unitime 43 was designed with international travellers in mind. The automatic wristwatch offers world-time indication through an ingenious independent hour hand that can be adjusted with the crown.

At the heart of the COSC-certified chronometer is the Breitling Manufacture Caliber B35, a self-winding movement, which, with its bidirectional ball-bearing rotor and two spring barrels, delivers a power reserve of more than 70 hours. The stunning dial is available in black or silver. The Navitimer 8 B35 Automatic Unitime 43 has a transparent sapphire case back. The 43-millimeter stainless-steel case with a rotating bezel comes with an alligator leather strap with a pin buckle.

Navitimer 8 Chronograph 43

The Navitimer 8 Chronograph 43 offers 30-minute and 12hour counters at 12 and 6 o’clock, respectively, along with a small seconds hand at 9 o’clock. It is accurate to a quarter of a second.

The COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 13 chronometer movement is at the heart of this watch. It is wound automatically with the use of a unilateral ball-bearing rotor, delivering an autonomous running time of more than 42 hours. The 43-millimeter case is available in stainless steel with a leather strap or a stainless-steel bracelet, or in DLC-coated steel paired with a leather strap with a pin buckle. The Navitimer 8 Chronograph 43 has a solid, screwed case back.   

Navitimer 8 Automatic Day & Date 41

The Navitimer 8 Automatic Day & Date 41 prominently displays the day of the week and the date along with the time. The day of the week is indicated at the 12 o’clock position while the date is ideally placed at 6 o’clock.

The automatic wristwatch is powered by the Breitling Caliber 45, whose bidirectional rotor winding offers over 40 hours of power reserve. The dial, in black or blue, is revealed   through a double anti-reflective sapphire glass. The 41-millimeter stainless-steel case has a solid screwed back. It comes with a leather strap with a pin buckle.

Navitimer 8 Automatic 41

The Navitimer 8 Automatic 41 makes a style statement. It is clearly a direct descendent of Breitling’s legendary watches from the 1930s and 1940s. Inside the stainless-steel case with its rotating bezel and pointer is the Breitling Caliber 17, which, with its bidirectional rotor winder, delivers more than 40 hours of power reserve.

The eye-catching dial is available in black or blue. The 41-millimeter COSC-certified chronometer has a solid screwed case back and is offered with a choice of a stainless-steel bracelet or a leather strap with a pin buckle. – TradeArabia News Service