Breitling Navitimer 'Exclusiv For Morgan Drivers' Chronograph

There is perhaps no more versatile complication than the chronograph. 

From race cars to rocket ships, boats to battlefields, you are likely to find a chronograph being employed to measure a plethora of tasks and times. From the Greek khrónos (“time) and gráphō (“to write”), a chronograph is a watch that has the ability to record time, generally via the addition of small sub-counters that register minutes and hours. 

No single company is more associated with classic midcentury chronographs than Breitling, inventor of the dual-button chronograph in 1933. Following on the heels of the developments in automatic chronographs in the late 1960s, it released the Chrono-Matic Reference 1806, powered by its Calibre 12 movement. Because this caliber was based upon the Buren 1282 micro-rotor movement and was not designed as an integrated chronograph mechanism, the crown needed to be placed at 9:00. This design proved expensive, and did not survive the Quartz Crisis.

This particular Navitimer, a Reference 1806, is housed in a whopping 47mm stainless steel case with a rotating slide rule navigational bezel with fluorescent markings, barrel pushers, a signed crown, and crisp visible caseback engravings. It features a matte black dial with multiple timing scales, a dual-register chronograph display, a date window at 6:00, Tritium indices, and a matching handset. Powered by the Calibre 12 movement, it comes fitted to a period-correct black Tropic® rubber strap with a steel pin buckle.

Looking closer, you'll notice a set of wings on the dial that do not belong to Breitling. Bentley then - you must be thinking. Wrong again! In fact, the logo belongs to Morgan - the small English car manufacturer - known for their commitment to vintage design language and 3-wheeled cars. Breitling produced a small number of these pieces exclusively for the Morgan Drivers Club in Europe. This outstanding time-capsule example is one of them.

Whether you’re navigating your Cessna, you simply want an extremely cool vintage watch to wear around town, or are desperate for a timepiece to accompany you in your Morgan, this Navitimer Chronomatic from the era of early automatic chronographs is a strong choice!

Breitling, one of the most illustrious names in the annals of the “tool watch,” was founded by Léon Breitling in 1892. And though the firm is no longer operated by its namesake family, it still produces some of the world’s best pilot’s watches, many of which now feature in-house movements.

The company first started manufacturing wrist chronographs as early as the 1930s. In 1936 they became an official supplier to military forces of the United Kingdom and Canada. While perhaps best known for the Navitimer and Chronomat lines — which were used heavily by pilots of many nations — Breitling also produced scores of other chronograph models that merit consideration, such as the more affordable Top Time and Premier. Dive watches, such as the Super Ocean, are also part of the company’s offerings.

The late 1970s was a turbulent time for the Swiss watch industry, and many storied houses were swept away by the Quartz Crisis. By 1978, Breitling was in trouble due to the illness of its leader, Willy Breitling, and the steep decline in sales that had cut through the entire industry. Unable to keep operations going, the company was liquidated, and parts, toolings and naming rights were sold off.
Between 1979 and 2017, Breitling continued under the ownership of the Schneider family. In 2017 an 80% stake in the firm was sold to a British private equity firm, with the remaining 20% sold in 2018. In 2019, the company released the caliber B01, an in-house, automatic chronograph movement that’s since found its way into the Chronomat and Navitimer collections, bringing the tale of this famed manufacturer full circle.

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Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

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All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

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Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.