Vintage Breitling Navitimer watches include a number of different features which make them a desirable object for admirers of horology. Vintage Navitimer prices vary from a few thousand dollars to much more than this depending on how rare the particular model is and whether the watch is in good condition.
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BREITLING NAVITIMER 860US $1,900.00 |
70s Breitling Navitimer Quartz 2100 LCD Military WatchUS $1,999.00 |
Breitling Premier Navitimer Automatic ChronographUS $2,088.00 |
Features and Design
The watch face of the Breitling Navitimer is complicated and includes a number of different functions. For example, the Navitimer 806 Venus comes with the standard clock and seconds hand, a minute counter and a 12 our counter located at 6. There is also a 60 second timer and a pillar wheel sub second.
Due to the large number of complications included in a Breitling Navitimer you expect that the watch face would appear crowded and difficult to use. Although the Navitimer certainly takes a bit of time to get used to it’s a remarkably elegant watch and is considered to be one of the most attractive vintage Breitling watches. Usually the strap of a Navitimer is made out of leather although there are several different colours which are commonly used.
There are many different Breitling Navitimer watches and each has a slightly different specification. For example the vintage Breitling Navitimer 806 Venus chronograph has a Venus 178 movement while later watches may use a different movement. The shock protection of a watch also depends on when it was made. The size of the watch is another factor which may depend on the exact model. For example, the 806 Venus has a diameter of 41mm.
Early Navitimers weren’t water resistant – if they became wet then the internal movement would become damaged very quickly. For this reason when buying a vintage Breitling Navitimer you need to be especially careful when using it around liquid. The power reserve of some of the earlier Breitling Navitimers is around 46 hours before the chronometer stops working.
As with all vintage watches the cost of buying a vintage Breitling Navitimer varies depending on how much people are willing to pay. Some of the factors which may affect the price include the condition of the movement and whether it has recently been serviced. The value of the watch also depends on whether the movement still runs smoothly and strong and whether it can accurately keep time. The chronograph movement included in a number of vintage Breitling Navitimer watches needs to be periodically refurbished in order to keep it running correctly. It’s also important to find out whether the face is original or not as this can affect the value.
One of the most recognisable features of vintage Breitling Navitimers is the slide rule scales. A watch with an original slide rule scale will be more attractive to collectors. A small amount of ageing may not affect the price greatly although the more noticeable the degradation is the more likely it will cause a reduction in price.