Press Release PDF - Professional Watches

Breitling launches the first
Navitimer with a 100% in-house
made chronograph movement
Breitling combines its two long-established passions
– chronographs and aeronautics – by offering the leg­
end­ary Navitimer model in a limited series equipped
with its proprietary Caliber 01. Issued in 2,000-piece
steel and 200-piece red gold editions, the “Navitimer
Caliber 01” is distinguished by its slightly broader
diameter and its transparent caseback providing clear
views of its high-performance “motor”. An eagerly
anticipated model among devotees of the brand
with the winged B, and a genuine collector’s item
for all connoisseurs of fine mechanical chronographs
and aviation.
In 2009, Breitling laid a major milestone in its history
by joining the exclusive circle of the rare watch companies to have their own mechanical chrono­graph
movement. This was a logical culminating point for
a brand that is one of the leaders in this complication and has played a crucial role in its technical
development through several key inventions: the
first independent pushpiece (1915); separation of
the stop/start and reset functions (1923); creation of
the second independent pushpiece for zero-resetting
(1934); and the launch of the very first selfwinding
chronograph (1969). Caliber 01, the first movement
entirely developed and produced in the Breitling
workshops, was first used to power an exclusive
new version of the leading Chronomat model, duly
named Chronomat 01. Breitling now introduces
it within another watchmaking icon, the famous
Navitimer which proudly embodies the brand’s
aeronautical vocation.
Breitling CaliBER 01:
a high-performance movement
assembled in a revolutionary
manner
Featuring an original architecture, the selfwinding
adjustment phases are integrated within this process,
Caliber 01 chronograph movement is the crowning
in such a way that upon emerging from the chain,
achievement of the longstanding quest for preci-
each Caliber 01 is ready to face up to the stringent
sion and reliability that has consistently governed
tests conducted by the Swiss Official Chronometer
Breitling “Instruments for professionals”. Equipped
Testing Institute (COSC) – a guarantee of authentic
with a column wheel, a vertical coupling clutch and
large-scale production reliability.
an over 70-hour power reserve, it was designed to
ensure maximum functionality and secure use. It
features several innovative characteristics aimed at
facilitating its production and its operation, including
a patented self-centering device for the resetting
hammers and an exclusive index-assembly system
enabling swift personalized adjustment of the watch
according to the wearer. This exceptional caliber is
also distinguished by its pioneering production and
assembly mode. Inspired by an avant-garde concept
used in other cutting-edge sectors, Breitling has
developed an industrial chain-production formula
that revolutionizes traditional movement assembly.
Each caliber is individually monitored by an ultrasophisticated computer program that automatically
directs it towards the appropriate workstation, along
a route alternating fully automated workstations
with others requiring manual intervention. All the
Navitimer:
the cult watch of pilots and
aviation enthusiasts
By immediately choosing to specialize in chrono-
capsule (1962), thus becoming the first spacegoing
graphs and timers, Léon Breitling, who founded
wrist chronograph. Continuously made since 1952,
the company in 1884, soon gained favor among
the Navitimer is the world’s oldest mechanical
aviation pioneers who needed sturdy, high-
chronograph still in production. By now adopting
performance instruments. During the 1930s, the
an “in-house” caliber, it is writing a new chapter in
brand launched its first onboard chronographs,
a rich history of major achievements and thrilling
which were to equip World War II fighter planes,
moments.
before accompanying the boom in air transport
in the cockpits of the finest propeller planes, and
later jets. In 1952, the “official supplier to world
aviation” created a “wrist instrument” specially
designed for pilots and other aeronautical professionals. Equipped with a circular slide rule,
the Navitimer chronograph serves to handle all
calculations linked to airborne navigation: average
speed, distance covered, fuel consumption, rate of
climb or descent, conversions from miles to kilometers or nautical miles, etc. Chosen as the official
watch by the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association), the world’s largest association of its
kind, the Navitimer has asserted itself as the most
iconic Breitling model – and a cult object for all
aviation enthusiasts. In its “Cosmonaute” version
with a 24-hour graduation, it accompanied Scott
Carpenter on his orbital flight aboard the Aurora 7
Navitimer Caliber 01:
an exclusive motor powering
a legendary model
The Navitimer Caliber 01 special edition is available
in two limited series of 2,000 in steel, and 200 in red
gold, each bearing an individual number engraved
on the side of the case middle. The case features
a diameter slightly broader than that of the seriesproduced Navitimer (43 mm compared with 42 mm).
The dial which is made using the “épargne” process on
a solid silver or gold base – a sophisticated technique
endowing the indications with peerless radiance
and readability – is exclusively available in a classic
black version with applied hour-markers. Breitling’s
winged symbol in gold is slightly raised to stand
out from the watch face. The transparent sapphire
caseback, a rare feature on Breitling models, provides a unique opportunity to admire the original
architecture of Caliber 01 with its column wheel,
its oscillating weight and its entirely performanceoriented design. An impressive set of characteristics
that are bound to delight devotees of exclusive
models – before the series-produced Navitimer
models equipped with 100% Breitling calibers take
flight next spring.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Movement
Breitling Caliber 01, officially chronometer-certified
by the COSC, selfwinding, high-frequency (28,800
vibrations per hour), 47 jewels. 1/4th of a second chronograph, 30-minute and 12-hour totalizers. Calendar.
Case
Limited series in steel or in 18K red gold. Resistance to 3
bars. Rotating bezel with circular slide rule. Cambered
sapphire crystal, glareproofed on both sides. Transparent sapphire crystal caseback. Diameter: 43 mm.
DIAL
Black.
Straps/bracelets
Barenia leather, crocodile leather/Navitimer (steel
version only), Air Racer.
The high-resolution images are available on:
http://www.breitling.com/media
User: media
Password: navitimer01
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