About this lot

Description

c1964, model 806, the signed 'reverse panda' dial, 38mm diameter, with twin jet logo, gold coloured batons and hands and gold coloured chronograph sweep, three 'small size' subsidiary dials recording running seconds and chronograph minutes and hours, outer tachymeter scale and bi-directional slide rule marked milled edged bezel, signed mechanical crown wind chronometer rated 17 jewel venus 178 movement, import code 'WOG', (for Wakmann), case, 40mm diameter, gold-plated with pushers above and below the crown, verso steel and snap on, signed and numbered 806, interior numbered 978312, to a signed black leather padded strap with white stitching and liveried steel pin buckle

Footnote: One of watch-makings most important historic chronograph models, the original 806 Navitimer set the template for modern technical pilot’s watches. Billed as a wrist-sized computer when it was first developed in 1952, the rotating bezel has the ability to compute distance travelled, flight time, airspeed, and remaining fuel consumption, due to the integration of a slide rule. In 1956, Breitling introduced the Venus 178 manually-wound chronograph movement which would continue to be used until the early 1970s. Eight years later, Breitling changed the dial layout of the Navitimer, most likely adapting to changing tastes and increasing legibility in low-light conditions. The now-iconic “reverse panda” configuration with black dial and white subdials was introduced in 1963 and in 1964, the bezel edge changed from a bead edge to a milled edge. Another stylistic change was the introduction of the “twin jet” logo, with ‘Breitling Genève’ below. With the majority of cases produced in stainless steel, a small number were produced with gold-plated cases, and an even smaller number in 18ct gold. The iconic Breitling Genève Navitimer 806 still remains today near the top of virtually every vintage watch collector's wish list.

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