Breitling Unitime Chronograph

For many aviators, a watch made by Breitling is an indispensable piece of kit.

The brand made its name early on for the production of chronograph pocket watches, introduced the first wrist chronograph in 1915, and changed the face of horology forever by adding a second pusher to a wrist chronograph in 1934. That move was an absolute game-changer, and before long, air forces such as the RAF were commissioning Breitling chronographs for their pilots.

While the Navitimer — with its slide rule and its indelible association with astronaut Scott Carpenter — is perhaps the best-known of Breitling’s aviator’s chronographs, the easier to read Reference 765 and its successor, the Reference 1765, are in our opinion the most wearable. Simply put, it’s a smokeshow, in the way that only military or military-inspired chronographs can be.

This piece is a Reference 1765 and features a 40mm stainless steel case with an acrylic crystal, a signed crown and a painted steel bidirectional bezel that largely remains intact. The matte black ‘reverse panda’ dial includes luminous tritium markers, silvered radial subsidiary registers and a matching stylized handset. 

At its core is the Venus Calibre 178 hand-winding movement — the same found the Co-Pilot Reference 765 and early Breitling Navitimers that are highly coveted. It comes fitted to our Analog:Shift Jones brown leather strap with a steel pin and buckle and it makes for a near-perfect pairing, if we do say so ourselves!

Though not a bestseller, the Unitime gets points in our book for being just plain cool, the perfect watch for the enthusiast who wants to channel their inner chopper pilot whenever they put it on.

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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Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

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

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

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.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

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.