The vintage version of the Navitimer is the Navitimer 806. Although there is a similar (yet not exactly the same) anniversary edition the vintage Breitling Navitimer 806 was first manufactured over fifty years ago and hence there can be no real comparison between the two. Vintage Breitling Navitimer 806’s can cost thousands of dollars depending on the condition and where you buy from.
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Breitling 806 Navitimer 1967 Black Dial Gold Pilots Chronograph Vintage OriginalUS $1,529.31 |
Superior Breitling 806 Navitimer Vintage 1960s ChronographUS $1,625.00 |
SPECTACULA VINTAGE 1967 BREITLING TWIN JET NAVITIMER 806 VENUS 178 ALL ORIGINALUS $1,875.00 |
Functions and Specification
If you buy a vintage Breitling Navitimer 806 then the case will usually be brush finished on most of the surface. The only places which aren’t brush finished are small sections of the rim and bezel. Unlike many modern watches the Navitimer 806 has a bezel which can turn in both directions due to the included slide rule. As the original Navitimer 806 isn’t waterproof there are no O rings to make the bezel turning more difficult and hence it slides easily.
One thing to note is that there is a noticeable size difference between the Navitimer 806 and the 50th Anniversary edition. The 50th Anniversary Navitimer is much thicker at around 15mm while the vintage Navitimer is only 12 mm thick. This includes the crystals of both watches.
The vintage Breitling Navitimer 806 uses the world-renowned Venus 178 which is one of Breitling’s most successful movements. This includes a chronograph movement. The Venus 178 utilizes a manual wind lever which runs at around 18000 BPH. This movement includes a power supply of around 40 hours before it stops working. This particular movement was developed by Breitling for at least two decades before it was used in the Navitimer 806 and hence keeps time very accurately. Although it isn’t officially a chronometer there is little doubt that the watch could pass the requirements if it had been tested at the time. The 50th Anniversary edition is an official chronometer.
An easy way to separate the vintage Breitling Navitimer 806 from the newer Anniversary version is to look at the backs of the watches. The vintage version has a back which only contains a “B” for Breitling and “Stainless Steel”. The Anniversary version contains considerably more information including both the reference and serial number of the watch.
It’s important to remember that the 806 is not waterproof at all! This means it may become irreparably damaged if it even touches water. If you’re looking for vintage Breitling Navitimer 806’s for sale then you should keep this in mind – especially if you plan on using the watch as an everyday timepiece. The newer 50th anniversary model is waterproof down a certain depth.
The Navitimer is an example of a watch which has stood the test of time and is still a wonderful timepiece today. Although the 50th Anniversary edition has replaced the original model it stays true to the 806 and is similar in both design and functions.