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.
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Navitimer 36 mm: The case
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.
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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.
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An array of attractive dials
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.
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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.
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Movement: Breitling Calibre 17
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.
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Breitling Navitimer 36 mm: Price and strap
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.
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BRAND | Breitling |
MODEL | Navitimer 36 |
REFERENCE | A17327211G1P1, A17327381B1P1, A17327361L1P1, U17327211A1U1, R17327211A1R1 |
CASE MATERIAL | Steel, 18-carat red-gold or bicolour |
DIMENSIONS | Diameter: 36 mm Height:11.42 mm |
WATER RESISTANCE | 30 m (~3 bar) |
DIAL | Sunburst or mother-of-pearl |
STRAP/BRACELET | Leather strap, steel or red-gold bracelet, bi-colour bracelet |
MOVEMENT | Breitling calibre 17 |
MOVEMENT TYPE | Automatic |
POWER RESERVE | 38 hours |
FREQUENCY | 4 Hz (28,800 vph) |
FUNCTIONS | Hours, minutes, seconds |
PRICE | Price varies: starting at EUR 4,900 |