120 Breitling A large, rare and attractive, Navitimer, chronograph wristwatch in yellow gold, with black luminous dial, guarantee and box, reference 806.

Estimate: € 6.000 –⁠ 12.000

Among the constellation of tool watches born in the 20th century, few shine as brightly—or as purposefully—as the Breitling Navitimer. Originally designed in 1952 for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the watch wasn’t a luxury, but an essential cockpit companion. It transformed the wrist into a flight computer: a rotating slide-rule bezel allowed pilots to compute fuel consumption, speed, and distance midair. But while most examples were issued in utilitarian steel, the present watch, cased in solid 18k yellow gold, belongs to an elite minority—made not for everyday sorties, but for those who soared highest. The black dial is punctuated by luminous Arabic numerals and framed by the iconic circular slide rule. Inside, the Venus 178, offering great reliability and refinement. The dial also bears the “twin jet” emblem, a detail coveted by collectors for its elegance and historic weight. Offered in superb condition and accompanied by its complement of box and papers, this example of the reference 806 transcends function. It is both relic and revelation, proof that even the most utilitarian instruments, when crafted with conviction, can become timeless.