Two new sizes, radiant mother-of-pearl dials, lab-grown diamonds, and actress Charlize Theron heading the new campaign: say hello to the new Breitling Navitimer 32 and 36 mm. A whole army of the manufacture’s most popular and iconic pilot’s watch are joining the collection in a range of new designs, from red-gold and steel to two-tone models. While the smaller watches use a SuperQuartz movement, the 36 mm watches house a mechanical movement: and it is these self-winding pieces that capture our interest.
Breitling is introducing no less than ten iterations of the new Navitimer 36 mm. This includes six steel models, two bicolour models (steel and 18-carat red gold), and two pieces in 18-carat red-gold. Notably, the red-gold watches use traceable gold from Swiss Better Gold Association-accredited mines. This is part of Breitling’s initiative to provide the utmost transparency when making all of their watches, as sustainability continues to become a more important topic in the luxury goods sector.
Despite the varying materials, all of the watches have water resistance to 30 m. Breitling also equips the watches with non-screw locked crowns with two gaskets, as well as, of course, the Navitimer’s hallmark beaded bezel.
While the new steel models are available with mint green, silver, or anthracite sunburst dials, the two bicolour as well as the red-gold watches showcase white mother-of-pearl with lab-grown diamonds. First garnering attention on the Super Chronomat Automatic 38, these lab-grown diamonds are now a hot topic at Breitling, and their creation is purported to be more eco-friendly than traditional diamond mining.
Breitling protect the dials with cambered sapphire crystal, which is glare-proofed on both sides for maximum legibility. Furthermore, in order to provide readability around the clock, the hands and hour markers on the Navitimer timepieces all benefit from a coating of Super-LumiNova.
While its 32 mm counterparts use a SuperQuartz movement, Breitling power the Navitimer 36 mm watches with the manufacture’s very own calibre 17. This self-winding movement has a 38-hour power reserve and a frequency of 4 Hz. Providing hours, minutes, and seconds, the time-only movement is highly precise, consequently allowing it to hold a COSC certification. Unlike the majority of Navitimer models, however, it remains without a chronograph function.
Finally, the watches come with coloured leather straps, or alternatively with metal or bicolour bracelets with seven-row links matching to the corresponding models. While the steel models start at 4,900 euros and the bi-colour pieces at 9,400 euros, the entirely red-gold version with matching bracelet is available for 32,000 euros. The watches are available both online as well as in boutiques.
