1970 Breitling Navitimer 'Chrono-matic' 1806

Historical Significance

The Breitling Navitimer Chrono-Matic Reference 1806, introduced in 1969, is a legendary pilot’s chronograph that redefined the Navitimer line with its groundbreaking automatic movement. Developed in collaboration with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), this model evolved from the 1942 Chronomat, incorporating a slide rule bezel designed by mathematician Marcel Robert for complex logarithmic calculations essential for pilots, such as airspeed, fuel consumption, and unit conversions. The Ref. 1806, often referred to as the “fried egg” due to its substantial 48mm case, stands out with its left-sided crown—a unique feature stemming from its innovative Calibre 11 movement, a pioneering automatic chronograph developed with Buren and Dubois Dépraz. This watch is not just a timepiece but a wrist-worn navigational computer, famously worn by astronauts like Scott Carpenter, marking its place in horological and aviation history.

Specifications and Design

This vintage Navitimer 1806 boasts a commanding presence with its 48mm diameter stainless steel case, featuring a polished and brushed finish, straight lugs, and a bidirectional rotating bezel that adjusts the slide rule for in-flight computations. The black dial is both functional and striking, with applied faceted luminous steel baton hour indices, white minute/second scales, and three black-and-white slide rule scales around the perimeter. It houses two subdials and a date window at 6 o’clock, protected by an acrylic crystal, with round chronograph pushers and a screw-down crown enhancing its robust, anti-magnetic, and shock-resistant design. The watch is powered by the automatic Calibre 112 (transitional between 11 and 12), notable for its micro-rotor and modular chronograph mechanism, offering reliable performance and a collectible rarity due to its limited production.

Condition:

The watch is in overall excellent condition.

The dial has no visible imperfections aside from a tiny mark on the right subdial. The original green tritium lume has evenly faded to a lovely warm cream color and it full intact.  The lume on the hands retains a touch of the original green. The lume is fully intact throughout.

The original plexiglass has some light surface scratches.

The case and bezel are in excellent condition.  The caseback engraving (which was shallow from the factory) is still present but has worn down over time, however model and serial numbers are still visible.  

The movement has been checked by our in-house watchmaker and appears to have been recently serviced.  On the timegrapher it is losing only 4 seconds  per day with an strong amplitude of 280,

Specifications:

Reference:1806

Year: c1970 (the case was manufactured in 1968 but likely this watch was assembled around 1970)

Material: Stainless steel

Dimensions: 47mm diameter 

Crystal: plexi-glass

Lume: Tritium

Caliber: Breitling 'chrono-matic' self-winding caliber 112 (transitional between 11 and 12)

Bracelet/Strap: High quality, calf leather strap.

Lug Width: 22mm

Box/Papers: N/A