Vintage Serviced Breitling Navitimer 806 Beaded 1966 Panda Dial Pilot Watch

There are a lot of words to describe this wristwatch, but the best one to sum it all up would probably be "WOW".

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.

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 1965 (James bond year).  Featuring all-original dial printing. This particular model also features the Two Jet logo on the dial, very clean watch.

This is a beauty and a very rare Breitling Navitimer 806 with Two Jet Topical dial Circa 1965 with the extremely rare beaded bezel. The hands on this watch looks to be changed at some point to Breitling Navitimer 819 (few other Navitimers have similar hands) which I think is a better looking watch, the orange pops and makes the watch looks great. Case back has an  engraving NS Rylance. 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.