No Reserve
8096
Breitling
Ref. 806
Navitimer, MK IV
A very well-preserved and rare stainless steel pilot’s chronograph wristwatch with slide rule bezel
Estimate
HK$20,000–40,000•︎
€2,200–4,400
$2,600–5,100
Manufacturer
Breitling
Year
1964
Reference No
806
Case No
996’133
Model Name
Navitimer, MK IV
Material
Stainless steel
Calibre
Manual, Venus cal. 178, 17 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Leather
Clasp/Buckle
Stainless steel Breitling pin buckle
Dimensions
40mm diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Accessories
Accompanied by original plexiglass crystal.
Full-Cataloguing
Good to know:
- Navitimer Mk. 4 produced in 1964, first year to have the “twin-jet” logo and serrated bezel
- Dial in excellent condition, and case edges are sharp
- Houses the legendary Venus 178 movement
- In 1952, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) approached Breitling and requested for a chronograph wristwatch that was capable of aviation needs and calculations. By adapting the original logarithmic slide rule of the Chronomat from the 1940s and integrating it to the rotating bezel, Breitling released the Navitimer, a combination of “navigation” and “timer”, signifying the nature of the watch. The original Navitimer has the AOPA signature in the winged logo, which was only distributed to the AOPA members.
- In 1955, Breitling made a public release of the watch and referenced it 806. In 1963, Breitling released the reference with white subsidiary dials in addition to the prior all-black dial. The following year, the reference got an even bigger update, in which the beaded bezel had been replaced by a milled edge bezel as we see in the present example.
- Another notable update was the rare “twin-jet” logo instead of the AOPA winged logo or the public-released badge logo, 1964 was the first year to bear the new logo, referring it as a Navitimer Mk. 4. This timepiece features an exceptionally well-preserved dial, with the black lacquer in pristine condition. The luminous material also reacts well under UV light and has developed a nice vintage-tinted hue.
- For a utility watched of such age, the condition is impressive, and is probably kept in the original unpolished state based on the sharp and defined edges. The present watch houses the manual winding Venus cal. 178 movement. The movement had been in use in Navitimers since 1955, replacing the Valjoux cal. 72 until the successor ref. 7806. It is a reliable workhorse for precise timekeeping.
- Navitimer Mk. 4 produced in 1964, first year to have the “twin-jet” logo and serrated bezel
- Dial in excellent condition, and case edges are sharp
- Houses the legendary Venus 178 movement
- In 1952, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) approached Breitling and requested for a chronograph wristwatch that was capable of aviation needs and calculations. By adapting the original logarithmic slide rule of the Chronomat from the 1940s and integrating it to the rotating bezel, Breitling released the Navitimer, a combination of “navigation” and “timer”, signifying the nature of the watch. The original Navitimer has the AOPA signature in the winged logo, which was only distributed to the AOPA members.
- In 1955, Breitling made a public release of the watch and referenced it 806. In 1963, Breitling released the reference with white subsidiary dials in addition to the prior all-black dial. The following year, the reference got an even bigger update, in which the beaded bezel had been replaced by a milled edge bezel as we see in the present example.
- Another notable update was the rare “twin-jet” logo instead of the AOPA winged logo or the public-released badge logo, 1964 was the first year to bear the new logo, referring it as a Navitimer Mk. 4. This timepiece features an exceptionally well-preserved dial, with the black lacquer in pristine condition. The luminous material also reacts well under UV light and has developed a nice vintage-tinted hue.
- For a utility watched of such age, the condition is impressive, and is probably kept in the original unpolished state based on the sharp and defined edges. The present watch houses the manual winding Venus cal. 178 movement. The movement had been in use in Navitimers since 1955, replacing the Valjoux cal. 72 until the successor ref. 7806. It is a reliable workhorse for precise timekeeping.
Breitling
Swiss | 1884The firm started by Leon Breitling in 1884 is best known for its technical aviation and oceanic watches. Today, all models are outfitted with certified chronometer movements, used for accurate timing. Early aviation pioneers in specialized chronograph timepieces, Breitling introduced the circular slide rule to watches in the 1940s for use by pilots. The firm’s most iconic chronograph, the Navitimer, was introduced in 1954 and continues to be manufactured today. Another key model is the Duograph, a split-seconds chronograph that was Breitling's most prestigious wristwatch during the 1940s through '60s. Their watches are built on their reputation for precision and sturdiness.