Introducing: The Breitling Navitimer 8 Automatic

January 29, 2018

Yesterday we gave you an early look at the first new Breitling watch created under the leadership of IWC vet Georges Kern, the Navitimer 8 B01 chronograph. Today we're back at it, with a simpler watch in the same new collection, the Navitimer Automatic. This simple three-hand-and-date watch comes in at a relatively modest 41mm across (positively tiny by recent Breitling standards) and 10.74mm thick. The styling is very much old-school Breitling, with a mid-century pilot's watch feel, though there is an all-black DLC-coated model that has a slightly more contemporary look than the plain steel versions. Why This Watch Matters As we said yesterday, Kern taking the reins at Breitling was some of the biggest industry news of 2017 (if not the biggest), and it's interesting to finally see where he's taking the brand. The Navitimer 8 collection is our window into what's been going on these last few months and what we can expect to see over the coming years. The combination of vintage inspiration (this watch is loosely based on a reference 768 aviator's watch in Breitling's archive), quality construction and performance (this watch is a COSC-certified chronometer), attention to detail (the bezel has 60 positions, letting you line up the engraved arrow with the minute markers to time an event), and wearability (the dimensions make this a great everyday watch option) portend good things ahead. Initial Thoughts Breitling is a brand that vexes many vintage watch enthusiasts. For decades, it was creating some of the coolest and most practical chronographs on the planet. However, despite the modern brand's manufacturing prowess, the styling veered into the brash and over-the-top these last few years. To see Breitling change its course a bit and tack back toward making watches that fans of bow tie Top-Times and AOPA Navitimers can get behind is refreshing indeed. The Basics Brand: BreitlingModel: Navitimer 8 AutomaticReference Number: A1731410 (stainless steel), M1731410 (DLC-coated stainless steel)Diameter: 41mmThickness: 10.74mmCase Material: Stainless steel or DLC-coated stainless steelDial Color: Black or blueIndexes: Arabic numeralsLume: Yes, on hands and numeralsWater Resistance: 100 metersStrap/Bracelet: Leather strap or stainless steel bracelet The vintage watch that loosely inspired the Navitimer 8 Automatic. The Movement Caliber: Breitling Caliber 17 (ETA 2824-2 base)Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, dateDiameter: 25.6mmThickness: 4.6mmPower Reserve: 40 hoursWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)COSC Certified ChronometerAdditional Details: Uses dual-action ball-bearing rotor for the winding system Pricing & Availability Price: Coming SoonAvailability: May/June 2018For more click here. Black DLC-coated steel and black dial Stainless steel and blue dial Stainless steel and black dial