Breitling Pays Tribute to Giants in the Sky with Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Boeing 747

When the Boeing 747 was revealed to the world in 1968, it instantly introduced a new era in air travel. Those in attendance, press and interested aviators alike, had no words for what they were looking at. The sheer size of the aircraft and its distinct upward curve above the flight deck was nothing like any other plane that was carrying passengers 30,000 feet up in the air at the time. It quickly became a coveted experience to travel in a Boeing 747, and that’s saying something considering this was a time where people got dressed up to fly in an airplane. Not like now, where sweatpants, a cozy hoodie, and noise canceling headphones are the norm. Flying back then was an event. The lore of the Boeing 747 only grew, as it was featured in many films including the 1973 James Bond flick, Live and Let Die. Even till this very day, the 747 is the aircraft of choice for the President of the United States.

But like all good things, they must come to an end. After 1,570 individual jets and 53 years of navigating the skies, the Boeing 747 has finally decided to retire. And to celebrate the original jumbo jet, Breitling has released a limited edition piece in partnership with Boeing called the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Boeing 747.

Breitling has a history that is deep rooted in aviation. Their very first designs, from dial layout to various complications, were created with pilots in mind. With both brands having a rich heritage in aeronautics and evolving the way we approach flying, it’s a no-brainer that these two have linked up. In fact, this isn’t the first time. Back in 2016, the brands starting with the letter “B” collaborated on a piece called the Navitimer Boeing Swiss Air 777, which highlighted Breilting’s partnership with Swiss Airlines as their, “Official On-Board Timekeeper.”

The case format for this recent collaboration remains the same. The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 is constructed in a sizable (much like the 747) stainless steel case measuring 43mm in width and 13.6mm in thickness. A gem-shaped crown with a heavy dose of knurling is framed by a set of pump-pushers that too have a knurled design on the stem. We have Willy Breitling, son of the watch brand’s founder, Leon Breitling, for the two-button chronograph design. It was Willy Breitling who filed the first patent for a chronograph system that used two buttons, instead of one, splitting the start/stop function and rest function. We salute you Willy.

The inner scale of the dial is sectioned off in red and is accompanied by a cream dial. This is inspired by the very first Boeing 747 which had a bold red line that ran along the side of the off-white jet. Instead of the signature Breitling B-winged logo, we get a rose gold shield logo with a pair of wings that pays tribute to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), which was the organization that the Navitimer was initially conceived for. The applied polished markers and hand set pair with three black subdials corresponding with the chronograph function. A date window slyly sneaks into the subdial at six.

The slide rule bezel uses the same cream tone and faint black accents. There’s also a touch of blue demarcating the Units Index Markers, which serves as a function to zero the different scales and acts as a reference point within the slide rule bezel. The slide rule is a piece of innovative design that allows pilots to perform complex arithmetic calculations on the “fly”. Thanks to this function, vital flight information including average speed, distance traveled, fuel consumption, and more can be formulated, all from this tiny scale filled with all sorts of numbers and units.

The underside of the case puts into view Breilting’s Manufacture Caliber 01 through a display caseback. The automatic movement comes equipped with 70 hours of power reserve, which is more than enough to stay running, even during a 19 hour flight from New York to Singapore. On the surrounding caseback, a couple of engravings read “One Of 747” and “Original Jumbo Jet”, further cementing the tribute to the Boeing 747. As Breitling CEO Georges Kern perfectly put it, “What better way to remember a revolutionary jumbo jet than with a revolutionary pilot’s chronograph.”

The Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Boeing 747 is limited to just 747 pieces and currently available through Breitling online and through select Breitling retailers. On a black alligator leather strap, the collaborative piece retails for $9,400 and on a stainless steel bracelet for $9,800. Breitling