BREITLING 18k Yellow Gold NAVITIMER 1967s

In 1954, Breitling introduced a model equipped with the world’s first circular slide rule bezel. Developed in 1952 at the request of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the watch was powered by the renowned Valjoux 72 movement and featured a 12-hour chronograph counter.

Most examples were marketed primarily for the American market, where Breitling strategically leveraged the AOPA network. By associating the watch with the pilots’ organization, Breitling effectively used the AOPA name as a powerful marketing platform and expanded its reach globally among aviation professionals.

In 1955, with the introduction of Mark 1.3, the model was assigned the reference number 806 for the first time, and the Breitling name began appearing on the dial. Soon afterward, the watch would also be equipped with the legendary Venus Caliber 178, a movement that played a major role in establishing Breitling’s reputation for quality worldwide.

During the later production of Mark 2, watches destined for the American market saw their manufacturer’s export code change from BOW to WOG. This code was also shared with American distribution brands such as Wakmann, a key sales partner responsible for expanding Breitling’s presence in the United States. This clearly reflects the brand’s strong focus on the American aviation market at the time.

In 1950, Breitling watches had already been officially adopted by the French Air Force, which led to the creation of the Ref. 765 AVI (Aviation) model in 1953.

In 1962, a major dial redesign was introduced. The following year, in 1963, the Navitimer itself evolved as the previously all-black three sub-dials were replaced with silver-white registers, significantly improving legibility. This marked the arrival of the Mark 3 generation. Around this period, Wakmann also established production facilities in France.

With the Mark 4, the bezel design changed dramatically. The earlier “beads” style bezel, which had featured 98 beads (later reduced to 94 and eventually 93 in late Mark 2), was replaced with a distinctive square-notch milled bezel. This particular bezel configuration existed only for a short period in early 1964, and today examples fitted with this bezel command a significant premium among collectors.

With the introduction of Mark 5, produced from 1964 to 1967, the Navitimer underwent another symbolic transformation. The long-standing AOPA wing logo was replaced by the “Twin Jet” logo, depicting two aircraft flanking the Breitling name. This marked the beginning of a new era for the brand, and the same logo was gradually introduced across other Breitling models as well.

In 1967, the Mark 6 generation appeared. In addition to the traditional stainless-steel models, gold-cased versions were introduced for the first time. These included gold-capped models with a gold-plated middle case and stainless steel caseback, as well as a small number of solid 18-carat gold examples.

During this period, the slide-rule scale was also updated with a red calculation reference mark, making calculations easier to read and use.

Finally, in 1968, the three chronograph registers were enlarged, creating what collectors now refer to as the “Big Eye” configuration. The story of the original Navitimer Ref. 806, the model that defined the Navitimer line, would ultimately conclude in 1974.

The example presented here represents one of the most extraordinary pieces within the Navitimer story.

It is an exceptionally rare solid 18-carat gold Navitimer Ref. 806, a model that almost never appears on the market. As described above, this piece belongs to the Mark 6 generation introduced in 1967, featuring the slide-rule scale with the distinctive red calculation reference point.

The slide rule allows pilots to perform rapid in-flight calculations. For example, by aligning 50 on the outer scale (representing 5,000 meters) with 60 on the inner scale (representing a descent rate of 1 meter per second), the corresponding scale opposite 10 indicates a reading of 83 minutes. This represents the time it would take to descend from 5,000 meters at a constant rate of one meter per second — the kind of calculation that could determine how much time a pilot had available in a given situation.

The crown has been replaced, and the strap attachment at the lugs has been repaired. However, the case has been carefully refinished by us without thinning the metal, preserving its original proportions while presenting the watch in beautiful condition.

For many collectors, encountering a solid 18-carat gold Navitimer Ref. 806 may well be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is a watch that seems destined to choose its owner — and the one fortunate enough to become its partner may well gain a companion worthy of life’s greatest moments.

- wrist size in our picture is 17cm circumference -