Breitling Navitimer 806 Twin Jets Chronograph Yellow Patina Vintage 1965 (Serviced)

Vintage Breitling Navitimer 806 Chronograph, Venus 178 movement, serviced March 2026, original black dial with evenly aged lume.

Breitling Navitimer

Breitling has been making watches since 1884, and the company built much of its reputation around tool watches designed for pilots and aviation professionals. Through the mid-20th century, Breitling became closely associated with the cockpit, supplying instruments to airlines and military air forces. The Navitimer, introduced in 1952, became the centerpiece of that identity and remains one of the most recognized pilot watches ever made.

The Navitimer ref. 806 is one of the earliest and most collectible versions of the model. It was produced from the 1950s into the 1960s and is powered by the Venus 178 movement, a manually wound chronograph caliber used by several Swiss watchmakers of that era. The watch is built around the signature bidirectional rotating slide rule bezel, which allows pilots to perform flight calculations such as fuel consumption, airspeed, and climb rate without additional tools. The 41mm case wears larger than it measures due to the prominent bezel and pushers, giving it a presence that feels appropriate for a working instrument.

What makes the 806 notable among collectors is its place as a genuine vintage tool watch with real aviation history behind it. These watches were actually used in cockpits, not just marketed toward pilots. The combination of the Venus 178 movement, the slide rule bezel, and the overall design that has changed relatively little over the decades gives the 806 a straightforward appeal. It is a watch that did a specific job and did it well, and that practical origin is what continues to drive interest in it today.

Key Details To Consider

This is a vintage Breitling Navitimer 806 chronograph that presents in very good overall condition for its age. The case has been polished at some point in its past and shows very little wear from that point forward, retaining clean lines throughout.

The black dial is a real highlight here. The lume plots have aged to a warm, even yellow tone across all the indices, and the hands match closely, giving the watch that consistent patina that collectors look for in a genuine vintage piece. There are no notable flaws to the dial surface.

The slide rule bezel rotates smoothly and accurately, functioning exactly as it should. Inside, the manual-winding movement was serviced in March 2026 and is running accurately.

The watch is being sold on a vintage 22mm brown ammo strap, which suits the era and aesthetic of the piece well.

Overall, this is a solid example of one of the most recognized pilot chronographs ever made, wearing its age honestly and in genuinely good shape. A great option for someone looking for an all-original Navitimer with a dial that shows the right kind of character.

Inquire about this item