More than 100 years before new-age glass cockpits and portable telephones, a legacy watch company was founded. In 1884, a Swiss-watchmaking firm was started by its namesake founder, Léon Breitling. From the outset, Breitling has focused on stylish, reliable and durable mechanical timepieces, which at the time were increasingly in demand for industrial, military, and scientific applications as well as for athletic organizations. But it wouldn’t be until more than half a century later that one of its most well-known, targeted product lines first took flight.
Since the 1950s, the brand’s aviation-inspired lineup of wristwatches has been headlined by a flagship timepiece, the Breitling Navitimer. Its name is a combination of the words “navigation” and “timer.” Equipped with the flight-specific slide rule that was introduced with the Chronomat, countless pilots, airlines and aircraft manufacturers have opted for this timepiece ever since. Breitling’s CEO, Georges Kern, further explained the watchmakers’ lasting legacy and continued commitment to aviation.
“Our legacy dates back to the 1930s when our Huit Aviation department established a global reputation for cockpit clocks. In the 1950s, we made this technology wearable with the Ref. 765 AVI, a pioneering pilot’s watch that inspired many more. Of course, the Navitimer was the ultimate pilot’s watch in the 1950s and 1960s and is still a key part of our collection. There have been numerous other highlights, including our onboard clocks on international airlines in the ‘60s and ‘70s and even space travel. Today, with the launch of the Super AVI, which was inspired by the Ref. 765 AVI and pays homage to four legendary planes, we come full circle, making it clear that aviation remains a defining part of our DNA.”
Christiaan van Deur, a controller at Charlotte ATCT and a private pilot, never flies without a Breitling watch on his wrist. A lifelong aviation enthusiast, his interest in luxury timepieces originated during his youth. His most beloved model he happened across by accident as a child when searching in the junk drawer of his mom’s dresser. He stumbled upon a small antique box with a winged B logo on the outside. Curiosity took over and Christiaan opened the box and saw a watch that immediately caught his eye and brought the piece to his mom’s attention. Come to find out, the Breitling Navitimer 806 (circa 1967) inside actually belonged to him. It was a gift that his grandfather, a World War II veteran and flight school owner, asked to be given to him when he was older. The watch was one of many personal adornments in the family’s possession as Christiaan’s mom was an avid jewelry collector, leading Christiaan to do the same with watches.
There are few times Christiaan’s wrist hasn’t had a timepiece on it since he first started wearing this watch in middle school. He gradually began to see the pieces as more than just a way of keeping time. What he found most intriguing about high-quality watches were “the art and intri-cacies” that come to-gether to complete each unique product. Initially, he scouted and acquired any time-tested designs from heritage brands, but he began searching for more and more Breitling pieces as he continued collecting.
He and his wife, Heather, a first officer for American Airlines, now own 12 Breitling watches. Their collection spans vintage and newer pieces and includes both aviation and non-aviation models. Christiaan explained that many facets make Breitling watches different from that of competing pilot watches.
“The Navitimer, for example, has a circular slide rule bezel that makes it possible to perform all the calculations required for flight planning and navigation: average speed, distance covered, fuel consumption, ascent and descent rates, and more,” said Christiaan. “It also has a chronograph function and a practical beaded bezel that allows for easier manipulation in the often-challenging circumstances a pilot may encounter in-flight. ”
The watch’s functionality has been thoroughly tested in military cockpits during combat, orbiting space shuttle modules, and of course, behind the yokes of an array of general aviation aircraft. Regardless of the time and place, the Swiss-made watches have been a popular choice with pilots in part due to their evergreen involvement with flight. This is one thing that Christiaan aims to help showcase through his efforts. In addition to moderating “Breitling Owners 1884,” an enthusiast forum on Facebook and Instagram, he has been an aviation liaison for the brand since 2019. In this position, he helps guide the company in continuing to create events and partnerships that fellow aviators will enjoy.
Historically, Breitling has sponsored a number of different jet demonstration teams that perform at airshows across the United States and Europe. This long-standing aerial marketing tradition has helped bolster the company’s identity with pilots and aviation enthusiasts alike. Today, they still sponsor several teams, although they have incorporated new elements into their continually evolving strategy. Another key partnership is Breitling’s sponsorship of the High-Sierra Fly-In, which took place in October.
The event, which celebrated its eleventh year in 2021, hosts thousands of people for a weekend of backcountry flying in the picturesque northern Nevada desert. These and other efforts’ successes tell of the brand’s lasting dedication to pilots and aviation enthusiasts. That said, events and partnerships are not the only evolution that the team is focusing on. As has been the case since 1884, the timepieces themselves have been Breitling’s primary focus. Whether it is the design or operation, the watchmaker is entirely focused on bringing highly competitive products to market. Under Georges Kern’s stewardship that began in 2017, the 138-year-old brand has increasingly focused on designing watches with a modern/retro twist in mind.
Following this framework, the Super AVI collection has been wildly popular since its release in November. This set incorporates elements from four fighters that helped to swing the needle in the Allies’ favor during the Second World War. The five chronometers honor “four powerful and memorable aircraft, whose filigree silhouettes adorn the watches’ sapphire case backs.” The featured models are the North American P-51 Mustang, the Vought F4U Corsair, the P-40 Curtiss Warhawk, and the de Havilland Mosquito.
As exemplified by this new collection, the company aims to utilize materials, color schemes and other elements that help to tell an unmistakable story. An example from the Super AVI collection is the Mosquito Chronograph. This particular watch has “a combination polished and satin-brushed black ceramic bezel and a black dial with white contrasting chronograph counters. Its red and orange elements recall the roundels and markings found on the versatile plane, dubbed the ‘Wooden Wonder.’”
Of course, the classics still get their fair share of deserved attention and the Navitimer has been considered by many the quintessential pilot’s watch for seven decades. But no matter one’s interests and type of watch that they are looking for, it all comes down to the experience of buying and owning one. Christiaan recommends that anyone interested in the brand’s watches begin their journey at a Breitling Boutique.
Here, one can receive the in-person, dedicated attention that they deserve when considering investing in a luxury timepiece. The associates are there to help walk anyone through available options and explain elements that vary amongst the different Breitling watches, as well as other manufacturers’ timepieces.
And for those looking to bring one home, the purchase experience is well worth the “white glove service and champagne celebration.” In the same vein, Christiaan emphasized Breitling watches are meant to be enjoyed: “Life is too short. Tomorrow is definitely not guaranteed, so use the fine china today. A watch at the end of the day, regardless of its price, is meant to be worn. So, strap it on your wrist and get in the cockpit!”
