Vintage Serviced Breitling Navitimer 806 1966 Panda Pilot Watch Cursive Big B CP

There are a lot of words to describe this wristwatch, but the best one to sum it all up would probably be "WOW". I dont think it get any Rare of a very limited run, Cursive B, in this condition. If you are a Breitling Collector you dont want to miss this one.

It all started when Breitling & AOPA decided to develop a revolutionary watch with a built-in chronograph and navigation computer (sliderule).  Breitling Switzerland has indicated production began in 1952, but it's my strong belief that the first Navitimers became available in 1954. AOPA (Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association) immediately decided to make it their official watch, and in that way the first Navitimer was born with AOPA's beautiful official wing logo displayed on its dial. Per my understanding this is the rarest between the two jet since the AOPA was purchased by the members.

The Breitling Reference 806 Navitimer is easily the most iconic model the brand ever produced and remains near the top of virtually every vintage watch collector's wish list.  Initially developed in the early 1950s, the Navitimer was designed from the ground up to be a function-first tool watch, offering a slide-rule navigation computer function operated by an internally-rotatable bezel.  This incredible feature allows pilots to perform essential calculations on their wrist, long before mobile electronics were available.  While the true functionality of the Navitimer is lost on most of us, there is no question that serious pilots (and astronauts) depended on their Navitimers as serious navigation tool.  It has been said that the 806 created a new category in historical horology of wristwatch or wrist instruments.

When Breitling designed the Navitimer in the early 1950s, the concept of a civilian tool watch was a novel idea. Watch companies produced a few purpose-designed pieces for military use in the early 20th century, but most watches that were sold at retailers were designed with purely fashion in mind. In the 1950s and 1960s, the tool watch market exploded, fueled by the popularity of SCUBA diving and the growing interest in aviation.  Breitling was one of the earliest manufactures to respond to the trend when they released the Navitimer in 1954.

Most passers-by would refer to the Navitimer as a watch, but that’s not quite right. This is a wrist-worn navigational computer. The Navitimer’s most distinctive feature, the slide rule bezel, is used by pilots to calculate airspeed, ascent and decent rates, flight time, distance traveled, fuel consumption and even imperial to metric unit conversions. The Navitimer truly is a computer, and also happens to be one of the best damn looking watches out there. 

In the movie Thunderball (1965), two Breitling watches are prominently used. The first Breitling in the film is a Breitling Navitimer, reference 806, which changes hands several times in the film.

Our Navitimer dates from approximately 1966.  Featuring all-original dial printing. This particular model also features the rarest form with Big Cursive  "B" Navitimer on the dial, and very clean watch. Justin Koullapis and Kurt Broendum from kurt-b.com have do an amazing job documenting this watch and information given it is so rare and almost no information is available online. Based on the information this watch is part of the second series of navitimers 806, this model was made from early 1964 to late 1966, which would make this part of the last production year of the watch with Cursive "B", and was never produced again. This Rare and one of the kind.

This is a beauty and a very rare Breitling Navitimer 806 with super rare Big Cursive  "B" Navitimer  Circa 1966. Defiantly a collector watch. Please look at all the pictures, as they are part of the description. The watch is working, Serviced, keeps great time and is part of our new Certified Pre-Owned CPO Program. This is a highly collectible watch. Very few left with this rare movement. Sure, to increase in value overtime, and a great addition to your collection. The condition of the watch is the same as it appears in the photos.  The watch is working.  Contact me if you have any questions first.