The Breitling Watch Source Forums

That 71 is in amazing condition, and besides the 806 / 809 I obviously also have some automatic options as well. After that though it can be an acquired taste. I guess I'm lucky that it was 1971 instead of 1981!

Hi !

I love the Navitimer and your timepieces are some of the most beautiful specimens I have ever seen from what I consider the real Breitling – prior to its closure and Mr. Ernest Schneider taking over the reigns of the firm. Thank you for sharing your pictures!

Best Regards,

Enezdez

_________________
IWC - Big Pilot 5002 - 01
IWC - Pilot Chrono 3717 - 04
Panerai - 183
Omega - Speedmaster 145.012 / 67
Rolex - Explore II (Black Dial) - 216570
Rolex - Explore I 114270
Blancpain FF 5015

Enezdez,

Thanks a lot for that wonderful comment; it's people like you that makes it worth being a serious watch collector.

I trust that you have read my article http://vintageure.dk/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=109 if there are any additional pictures you would like to see, then don't hesitate to let me know.

Below here is a fun picture I once shot of a very rare 1962 1st generation AOPA Cosmonaute / Navitimer.


Thanks again, Kurt B

Hi Kurt,
Can you please share with us what makes this layout so rare? The lack of AOPA logo, the matte hands or something I am not seeing?
Also, I think in your article that you state that this example is from 1956 but isn't it sort of gospel that this "Breitling B Geneve" logo is found later, ca. 1960-2? Or do I have that wrong?
Thanks in advance and best regards,
Tom

Tom,

What makes it rare is that I have only seen 2-3 of them in 10 years of collecting Navitimers, and when I showed it to Theresa she was surprised as she had never seen it before.

We have seen the "Breitling B Geneve" above the AOPA wing later on, from app 1960.



/ Kurt B

Maybe so but the fonts of the "Breitling B Geneve" are merely a bigger version of those found on the ones with the AOPA logo:





So this is why I asked about the chronology of this logo style with perhaps an implied question as to why they would have waited 4 more years to adopt it officially on the AOPA wing dials.
Thanks & best,
T.

P.S. BTW, when you say something like "it's rare because I've only seen 2-3 of them in a decade," that's fair enough but I was really asking what about the dial makes it so rare. I take it that it is the "naked logo" sans AOPA that makes it so rare. But please try to remember when you are answering a question that what is obvious to you is not as obvious to those of us who have not handled as many Navitimers as you.

Tom,

You are obviosly right, but let me quote you with your own very wise words.

"P.P.S. In my experience, it's also important to keep in mind when a poster is not a native English speaker, as translation/posting style can lead to a lot of misunderstandings."

If you have any specific questions about the watch then let me know.


/ Kurt B

OK: Please describe what exactly, precisely and specifically about the ruddy watch makes it so rare?????

T.

What makes it so rare is that according to what believe; extremely few of them were made.

It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I realized that this dial layout with “B and Breitling Geneve”, existed at all, as all the Navitimers I had seen previously had AOPA’s wing on the dial.

Furthermore it has the matt silver plated hands that I have only seen on Navitimers from 1954 & 55.


/ Kurt B

Ahhhhhh...thank you, Kurt! I feel as if I have passed a stone...
Very good info & thanks again,
Tom