Breitling Navitimer 806 - Revision history

Richard at 17:29, 24 May 2020

2020-05-24T17:29:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:29, 24 May 2020
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			[[File:Breitling 806.jpg\|thumb]]
	==Breitling Navitimer==		==Breitling Navitimer==
	==Brief History==		==Brief History==

Richard: /* 1972 Date 806 */

2020-05-24T17:27:51Z

1972 Date 806

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:27, 24 May 2020
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	[[File:Breitling 806 date.jpg\|thumb]]		[[File:Breitling 806 date.jpg\|thumb]]
	Breitling debuts the reference 7806 in 1972 – the first Navitimer with a date display at half past four o’clock. The movement is now a Valjoux 7740 and the hour counter at six o’clock is replaced by a sweep seconds counter. The “twin jet” logo is now ubiquitous, and Navitimer appears below the signature, rather than above the hour counter. Instead of being bichromatic, Breitling introduces hints of color to the date window and elements of the slide rule.		Breitling debuts the reference 7806 in 1972 – the first Navitimer with a date display at half past four o’clock. The movement is now a Valjoux 7740 and the hour counter at six o’clock is replaced by a sweep seconds counter. The “twin jet” logo is now ubiquitous, and Navitimer appears below the signature, rather than above the hour counter. Instead of being bichromatic, Breitling introduces hints of color to the date window and elements of the slide rule.

			===809 Cosmonaute Version===
			[[File:Breitling cosmonaute.jpg\|thumb]]
			Another rare version is the reference 809 – the Cosmonaute. In the early 1960s, Scott Carpenter was preparing for the Mercury mission and wearing a Navitimer, but realized that the dark environs of space may be disorienting. He approached Breitling about creating a Navitimer with a 24-hour dial to help tell night from day when in Space, and in 1962, Breitling produces exactly that, naming it the Cosmonaute and featuring an all-black dial similar to the early 806 and and enlarged beaded bezel to help manipulate the watch with gloves.

			Scott Carpenter indeed wore this watch provided by Breitling during the Aurora 7 mission, precisely on May 24, 1962, making it the first Swiss wrist-worn chronograph in space. While this version with an enlarged bezel was only produced for not even a year and is extremely rare, the Cosmonaute then followed the same esthetic evolution as the Navitimer, later featuring a “twin jet” logo and contrasting sub‐registers on the dial.

	==Links==		==Links==

Richard: /* 1972 Date 806 */

2020-05-24T17:25:34Z

1972 Date 806

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:25, 24 May 2020
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	===1972 Date 806===		===1972 Date 806===
	[[File:Breitling 806 date.jpg\|thumb]]		[[File:Breitling 806 date.jpg\|thumb]]
	Breitling debuts the reference 7806 in 1972 – the first Navitimer with a date display at half past four o’clock. The movement is now a Valjoux 7740 and the hour counter at six o’clock is replaced by a sweep seconds counter. he “twin jet” logo is now ubiquitous, and Navitimer appears below the signature, rather than above the hour counter. Instead of being bichromatic, Breitling introduces hints of color to the date window and elements of the slide rule.		Breitling debuts the reference 7806 in 1972 – the first Navitimer with a date display at half past four o’clock. The movement is now a Valjoux 7740 and the hour counter at six o’clock is replaced by a sweep seconds counter. The “twin jet” logo is now ubiquitous, and Navitimer appears below the signature, rather than above the hour counter. Instead of being bichromatic, Breitling introduces hints of color to the date window and elements of the slide rule.

	==Links==		==Links==

Richard: /* 1972 Date 806 */

2020-05-24T17:24:56Z

1972 Date 806

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:24, 24 May 2020
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	===1972 Date 806===		===1972 Date 806===
	Breitling debuts the reference 7806 in 1972 – the first Navitimer with a date display at half past four o’clock. The movement is now a Valjoux 7740 and the hour counter at six o’clock is replaced by a sweep seconds counter.		[[File:Breitling 806 date.jpg\|thumb]]
			Breitling debuts the reference 7806 in 1972 – the first Navitimer with a date display at half past four o’clock. The movement is now a Valjoux 7740 and the hour counter at six o’clock is replaced by a sweep seconds counter. he “twin jet” logo is now ubiquitous, and Navitimer appears below the signature, rather than above the hour counter. Instead of being bichromatic, Breitling introduces hints of color to the date window and elements of the slide rule.

	==Links==		==Links==

Richard: /* Post 1964 806 */

2020-05-24T17:23:50Z

Post 1964 806

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:23, 24 May 2020
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	Subdials are at first the same diameter as earlier generations, but are eventually replaced with larger versions, again with the sole purpose to always improve legibility and functionality. Notably, Navitimers with the AOPA logo will continually be produced, but are no longer the mainstay of the dial.		Subdials are at first the same diameter as earlier generations, but are eventually replaced with larger versions, again with the sole purpose to always improve legibility and functionality. Notably, Navitimers with the AOPA logo will continually be produced, but are no longer the mainstay of the dial.

			===1972 Date 806===
			Breitling debuts the reference 7806 in 1972 – the first Navitimer with a date display at half past four o’clock. The movement is now a Valjoux 7740 and the hour counter at six o’clock is replaced by a sweep seconds counter.

	==Links==		==Links==

Richard: /* Post 1964 806 */

2020-05-24T17:22:56Z

Post 1964 806

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:22, 24 May 2020
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	===Post 1964 806===		===Post 1964 806===
	A more drastic change occurs in 1964, when Breitling decides to forgo the beaded bezel forever and replaces it with the milled edge bezel. Another stylistic change with the introduction of the “twin jet” logo is implemented, with Breitling Genève below this new logo.		A more drastic change occurs in 1964, when Breitling decides to forgo the beaded bezel forever and replaces it with the milled edge bezel. Another stylistic change with the introduction of the “twin jet” logo is implemented, with Breitling Genève below this new logo.

			Subdials are at first the same diameter as earlier generations, but are eventually replaced with larger versions, again with the sole purpose to always improve legibility and functionality. Notably, Navitimers with the AOPA logo will continually be produced, but are no longer the mainstay of the dial.

	==Links==		==Links==

Richard: /* 806 Early 1960s Version */

2020-05-24T17:22:07Z

806 Early 1960s Version

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:22, 24 May 2020
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	[[File:Breitling 806 2.jpg\|thumb]]		[[File:Breitling 806 2.jpg\|thumb]]
	After about eight years Breitling once again changed the dial layout of the Navitimer, likely adapting to changing tastes and increasing legibility in low-light conditions. The now-iconic “reverse panda” configuration with black dial and white subdials is introduced in 1963. For one year, the “reverse panda” dial remained in the earlier 806 case with a beaded bezel (93 beads for these two iterations). The handset was also updated from luminous, syringe-style hands to arrow-tipped baton hands		After about eight years Breitling once again changed the dial layout of the Navitimer, likely adapting to changing tastes and increasing legibility in low-light conditions. The now-iconic “reverse panda” configuration with black dial and white subdials is introduced in 1963. For one year, the “reverse panda” dial remained in the earlier 806 case with a beaded bezel (93 beads for these two iterations). The handset was also updated from luminous, syringe-style hands to arrow-tipped baton hands


			===Post 1964 806===
			A more drastic change occurs in 1964, when Breitling decides to forgo the beaded bezel forever and replaces it with the milled edge bezel. Another stylistic change with the introduction of the “twin jet” logo is implemented, with Breitling Genève below this new logo.

	==Links==		==Links==

Richard: /* The First 806 */

2020-05-24T17:20:46Z

The First 806

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:20, 24 May 2020
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	These include the AOPA signed wings of the early 806, a configuration only meant for the American market, unsigned wings and the Breitling logo, and a Breitling – Genève – wings combination. The actual Breitling signature only became present on the dial in the late 1950s, so early iterations of the reference 806 do not display the manufacture. The beads on the bezel got larger and decreased in number, likely to increase friction. Advertisements of the era bill the Navitimer as the “chronograph of the future” and declared unequivocally that “the Navitimer is your co-pilot.” Bringing a more luxurious touch to this pilots' instrument, a gold-plated version was also made, as well as an extremely rare execution crafted in solid gold.		These include the AOPA signed wings of the early 806, a configuration only meant for the American market, unsigned wings and the Breitling logo, and a Breitling – Genève – wings combination. The actual Breitling signature only became present on the dial in the late 1950s, so early iterations of the reference 806 do not display the manufacture. The beads on the bezel got larger and decreased in number, likely to increase friction. Advertisements of the era bill the Navitimer as the “chronograph of the future” and declared unequivocally that “the Navitimer is your co-pilot.” Bringing a more luxurious touch to this pilots' instrument, a gold-plated version was also made, as well as an extremely rare execution crafted in solid gold.

			===806 Early 1960s Version===
			[[File:Breitling 806 2.jpg\|thumb]]
			After about eight years Breitling once again changed the dial layout of the Navitimer, likely adapting to changing tastes and increasing legibility in low-light conditions. The now-iconic “reverse panda” configuration with black dial and white subdials is introduced in 1963. For one year, the “reverse panda” dial remained in the earlier 806 case with a beaded bezel (93 beads for these two iterations). The handset was also updated from luminous, syringe-style hands to arrow-tipped baton hands

	==Links==		==Links==

Richard: /* Pre806 AOPA model */

2020-05-24T17:18:07Z

Pre806 AOPA model

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:18, 24 May 2020
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	The beaded bezel, made for gripping with a leather glove whilst making in-flight calculations, features smaller beads (about 125 beads to be exact) than later iterations. They were marketed directly to AOPA members for the grand sum of $87.50. This early iteration and its immediate successor both have “all black” dials, as future Navitimers would have contrasting subdials, another signature from Breitling chronographs meant for further improving legibility.		The beaded bezel, made for gripping with a leather glove whilst making in-flight calculations, features smaller beads (about 125 beads to be exact) than later iterations. They were marketed directly to AOPA members for the grand sum of $87.50. This early iteration and its immediate successor both have “all black” dials, as future Navitimers would have contrasting subdials, another signature from Breitling chronographs meant for further improving legibility.

			===The First 806===
			[[File:Breitling 806 1st.jpg\|thumb]]
			In 1956, wishing to capitalize on the Navitimer’s success within the aviation community, Breitling released what was now called the reference 806. Instead of a Valjoux 72 movement, the 806 housed a Venus 178 manually-wound chronograph movement, which would continue to be used until the early 1970s. Still with black subdials, the reference 806 otherwise had several dial variations, as Breitling experimented with new markets and layouts.

			These include the AOPA signed wings of the early 806, a configuration only meant for the American market, unsigned wings and the Breitling logo, and a Breitling – Genève – wings combination. The actual Breitling signature only became present on the dial in the late 1950s, so early iterations of the reference 806 do not display the manufacture. The beads on the bezel got larger and decreased in number, likely to increase friction. Advertisements of the era bill the Navitimer as the “chronograph of the future” and declared unequivocally that “the Navitimer is your co-pilot.” Bringing a more luxurious touch to this pilots' instrument, a gold-plated version was also made, as well as an extremely rare execution crafted in solid gold.

	==Links==		==Links==

Richard: /* Pre806 AOPA model */

2020-05-24T17:16:11Z

Pre806 AOPA model

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:16, 24 May 2020
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	[[File:Breitling 806 AOPA.jpg\|thumb]]		[[File:Breitling 806 AOPA.jpg\|thumb]]
	The first Navitimers ever produced were intended for the sole use by members of the Aircraft and Pilot Association (commonly referred to as the AOPA). They do not bear any reference numbers on the caseback, and were produced for only one year, from late 1954 until 1955. These are incredibly rare and highly prized by collectors. This “pre-806”, as it is called by collectors, is powered by the much-lauded Valjoux 72 manually wound chronograph movement.		The first Navitimers ever produced were intended for the sole use by members of the Aircraft and Pilot Association (commonly referred to as the AOPA). They do not bear any reference numbers on the caseback, and were produced for only one year, from late 1954 until 1955. These are incredibly rare and highly prized by collectors. This “pre-806”, as it is called by collectors, is powered by the much-lauded Valjoux 72 manually wound chronograph movement.

			The beaded bezel, made for gripping with a leather glove whilst making in-flight calculations, features smaller beads (about 125 beads to be exact) than later iterations. They were marketed directly to AOPA members for the grand sum of $87.50. This early iteration and its immediate successor both have “all black” dials, as future Navitimers would have contrasting subdials, another signature from Breitling chronographs meant for further improving legibility.

	==Links==		==Links==