Breitling

In 1952, Willy Breitling was approached by the prestigious U.S. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) to create a specialized chronograph for its members. Rising to the challenge, Breitling set out to develop an innovative wrist-worn instrument that would allow pilots to perform essential flight calculations, including average speed, distance traveled, fuel consumption, rate of climb or descent, and unit conversions between miles, kilometers, and nautical miles.

At the time, these calculations required a logarithmic slide rule. To meet aviation needs, Willy Breitling adapted the original slide rule from the 1940s Chronomat, integrating it into a rotating bezel surrounded by small beads for easier manipulation. This innovation led to the creation of the Navitimer—its name a fusion of “navigation” and “timer.” Early Navitimers prominently featured the AOPA wing logo on the dial, underscoring their exclusivity to AOPA members.

The present lot is particularly rare, as its dial bears the ‘AOPA’ stamp, a hallmark found only on the earliest Ref. 806 models, which were initially available exclusively to AOPA members. The first Navitimer 806 editions were also equipped with the Venus 178 manual chronograph movement, like the one offered here. With a 41mm case—remarkably large for its time—the Navitimer not only stood out in its era but also remains well-suited to modern tool watch aesthetics without appearing oversized. We are delighted to present this well preserved timepiece, passed down from the family of its original owner—a pilot who cherished and wore it with pride over the years.