The first capsule collection, "Navitimer 1 Airline Edition" | BREITLING

BREITLING

The first capsule collection, celebrating the golden age of aviation.
"Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Swissair Edition"

Breitling has released the "Navitimer 1 Airline Edition" capsule collection, paying homage to the commercial aviation industry that reached its zenith between the 1960s and '70s. Kicking off the collection, which celebrates iconic airlines of that era, is the "Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Swissair Edition," commemorating Swissair, the former national airline of Breitling's home country, Switzerland.

Text by OZAKI Sayaka

A youthful, cool design from the 1960s and '70s makes a comeback!

Since its founding, Breitling has led the development of chronographs, establishing itself as a brand with international acclaim. Its high-precision wristwatch chronographs were favored by pilots who relied on them for calculations during flight, and onboard chronographs were also fitted into jets manufactured by leading global aircraft makers, eventually becoming standard equipment.

From a 1969 catalog.

In the 1960s, Breitling became a trusted supplier to over 15 major corporations and aircraft manufacturers, coinciding with the boom in commercial aviation. To commemorate this golden age of commercial aviation and Breitling's close ties to the world of flight, the "Navitimer 1 Airline Edition" collection was launched.

The collection begins with the "Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Swissair Edition," honoring Swissair. The movement

is Breitling's in-house Caliber 01, boasting exceptional precision and a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. The dial is styled in red and black, echoing the livery of Swissair aircraft of the era, and the transparent sapphire crystal case back is printed with the Swissair logo.

Breitling's Chief Marketing Officer, Tim Sayler, commented, "Our first capsule collection highlights the significant role Breitling played in aviation during the true golden age of commercial flight from the mid-to-late 20th century. Furthermore, these models focus on the youthful, cool designs that were popular in the 1960s and '70s. This is a design aesthetic that is currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity and is having a significant impact on current trends."

Additionally, timepieces commemorating other airlines that were prominent during aviation's golden age are planned for future release. This capsule collection will be available for a limited time from April 2019 at Breitling Boutiques and authorized retailers.