Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 watch
As one of the most famous luxury replica watches brands in the world, and the company responsible for inventing the modern two-pusher chronograph, Breitling has quite a few noteworthy models in its portfolio. With this in mind, the Navitimer is undoubtedly Breitling's most famous watch, and its distinctive slide rule bezel makes it one of the true icons of the horological world. Although the first Chronomat was technically the first Breitling model to feature this iconic detail, it ended up being Navitimer’s calling card, and it’s usually Navitimer that comes to mind first when someone says the word “Breitling.” I've always admired the Breitling Navitimer, and I love how the highly functional design of the wrist-mounted flight computer ended up being one of the most recognizable luxury watch designs in the world. Most of the Navitimer models released over the years are a little too big for my personal liking as someone with thinner wrists though, and their inherently rather bold styling doesn't do much to downplay their size. Despite being objectively a Navitimer fan, it has always been my go-to watch from afar. However, Breitling has been significantly expanding its iconic collection in recent years, and the current Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 is a model that I can easily see myself wearing in my everyday life.
The current Breitling Navi Chronograph collection includes best swiss replica watches with case diameters ranging from 35mm to 46mm, and the chronographs are available in 41mm, 43mm and 46mm. That said, the 43mm version of the B01 Chronograph is the centerpiece of the collection, and while 43mm still represents a sizable case diameter, it’s more manageable than the 46mm and 48mm monsters in the brand’s back catalogue. This is what usually comes to mind when someone thinks of the Navitimer series. On top of that, the 43mm listed size is actually the diameter of the fluted rotating bezel that hangs off the edge of the case, and if you measure the diameter of the middle case itself, it's actually closer to 41mm, which is about 49mm overall Lug to lug profile. Similarly, the official thickness of the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 is 13.6 mm, but this also includes the domed sapphire crystal with blue anti-reflective coating, which protrudes above the edge of the bezel. While the 43mm Breitling Navitimer isn't exactly a shrunken violet, the watch itself will eventually wear significantly less than its on-paper dimensions might suggest.
Further helping to lighten the perceived size of the watch is its case finish, with the sides of the stainless steel middle case being linearly brushed in contrast to the polished top surfaces of the lugs. A similar approach is taken to the finishing of the push buttons, with brushed sides and highly polished ends, and these brushed surfaces across the case assembly help to temper an overall appearance that can sometimes be rather 'shiny' when fully highly polished. Other than that, everything else is pretty much what we've come to expect from a modern Breitling aviation chronograph, and the B01 Chronograph 43 features a large signature winding crown with two pushers, and a screw-down caseback with a sapphire display provides the interior Window for the movement view. Given that the Navitimer is a pilot's watch, water resistance wasn't really a priority, and the inherent nature of the model's intricate design created multiple points of potential water entry. While the Navitimer won't be your underwater timekeeping companion (that would be a Breitling Superocean), it still has a fairly standard 30m water resistance, which is more than enough protection against everyday occasional encounters.replica Breitling Endurance Pro Ironman
Currently, Breitling offers the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 in a number of different dial colors, but the specific example I received was an ice blue version with black sub-dials. The main face of the dial is metallic pale blue with a prominent sunburst finish, the hour markers are in polished batons, and the fan-favorite AOPA wings logo is located just below the 12 o'clock position. The three recessed sub-dials and the inner rotating slide rule bezel are all finished in matte black for added contrast, and neatly positioned within the sub-dials at 6 o'clock is a rectangular aperture that serves as a date window. To help improve the legibility of large amounts of text, it is printed in black on an ice blue surface, while the black parts appear in white, and in typical Navitimer fashion, the different colors (in this case bright red) are Used for key markings on the bezel of its slide rule. All hands have a polished finish to match the hour markers, although the hour and minute hands feature thin luminescent inlays, while the seconds hand is painted bright red for added contrast and improved legibility when combined with the logarithmic bezel . Everything about the overall layout of the dial is very traditional, exactly what you'd expect from a Navitimer, but the mix of metallic ice blue with a dash of bright red ends up creating a fresh aesthetic that nicely balances the line between glam and sport.mens replica watch
Powering the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 chronograph is the brand's Caliber 01 automatic movement. Originally launched in 2009, the Breitling 01 is the brand's flagship in-house chronograph movement, which can now be found in a variety of different models currently in production. The 47-jewel integrated chronograph movement is equipped with a column wheel with vertical clutch and operates at 28,800vph (4Hz) while providing the user with a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. In addition to being a twelve-hour chronograph with date display, the Breitling Cal. 01 movement is also a COSC-certified chronometer, which means it is guaranteed to run within -4/+6 per day. Although the Caliber 01 is essentially Breitling’s workhorse chronograph movement, it’s well-decorated and best viewed through the Navitimer’s display caseback, which includes Côtes de Genève stripes and gold-plated engravings on the skeletonized rotor and upper bridge. In actual use, I found that the Breitling Caliber 01 kept time within expected specifications, and the column wheel mechanism provided a nice and snappy movement when starting or stopping the chronograph.Jacob & Co. EPIC X CHRONO
While the Breitling Navi Chronograph B01 Chronograph 43 is available with an option of a stainless steel bracelet, the particular example I received was the version with the traditional black alligator leather strap. The strap features medium padding, white contrast stitching and bright yellow lining, tapering from 22mm at the lugs to 18mm, and attaches to a pin-buckle deployment clasp with a convenient two-button release. While the strap material was a little stiff when new, it quickly adapted to the shape of my wrist and eventually became quite comfortable to wear over time. The quality and comfort of the included leather strap is certainly good enough that there's no real reason to look for an alternative (other than for variety).
When it comes to Breitling chronographs, I've always preferred the Chronomat to the Navitimer, although there's no denying that the Navitimer is the real star of the Breitling catalogue. Besides being one of the most famous chronographs of all time, its unique design makes it more recognizable than other super famous chronographs like Omega Speedmaster or Rolex Daytona. While some of the rambunctious ends of the Navitimer collection occasionally stray from the model's core aesthetic, the classic-styled Breitling Navitimer is a watch that is instantly recognizable across a room, offering a rich history that ranks alongside the best in the industry middle.replica Patek Philippe Aquanaut
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