Breitling Introduces New Classic AVI “Co-Pilot” With 42mm Case

Breitling revealed their modern Super AVI collection in 2021 at an airstrip in Dallas, with actual war planes and pilots on hand. We brought you live coverage right here, and as nice as we found some of the designs, the cases themselves, which clocked in at 46×15.9mm, were a tougher pill to swallow. In an attempt to address this, Breitling has introduced a new Classic AVI family into the collection, which features a more wrist-friendly 42×14.7mm case at the expense of the GMT complication found in the Super AVI family. Further still, within this release is a 41mm ref. 765 1964 Re-Edition that stays true to old school form both inside and out. 

The new Classic AVI watches bring the same design language we saw in the Super AVI, which itself is a reference to the Breitling reference 765 from the early ‘50s, a watch that earned the nickname “Co-Pilot” for its usefulness to pilots of the time. The Super AVI watches featured designs that drew inspiration from iconic WWII planes, and the Classic AVI collection makes use of the same schemes to great effect. This includes the P-51 Mustang, Vought F4U Corsair, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, and Mosquito planes, which are each represented in the 4 different colorways.

The newest AVI watches use the Breitling Caliber 23, which is their modified Valjoux 7753. This means the pricing is also considerably more attractive than the Super AVI collection, with prices starting at $5,800 for leather strap equipped watches, and $6,200 if you prefer a bracelet. One of the watches released within this Classic AVI family, however, is the ref. 765 1964 Re-Edition, which is an online and boutique exclusive, and this differs from the others in a few ways. 

The 765 1964 Re-Edition gets a far more serene dial, which utilizes baton markers and pencil hands, as well as a single numeral 12 at the top of the dial. The running seconds and hour totalizer sub dials also get cleaned up a bit, while the distinctive minute totalizer carries over at the 3 o’clock position. This particular watch gets a 41mm case that measures 14mm thick, and even touts an acrylic crystal for maximum throwback appeal. Further still, this watch uses the Breitling manufacture caliber 23, a hand wound chronograph movement with a 70 hour reserve. 

The 765 1974 Re-Edition is perhaps the most compelling modern watch to bear the AVI nameplate, and pays respect to the origins of the name in the best way possible. It’s a poignant reminder of the beauty underpinning the modern Breitling design language. 

The Classic AVI watches are available from Breitling now, while the 765 1964 Re-Edition is available for pre-order at the price of $9,050. Breitling