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Breitling Chronomat ref 808 Wristwatch, 175 Manually Movement, Circa 1962.

Name: Breitling Chronomat ref 808 Wristwatch, 175 Manually Movement, Circa 1962.
Brand: Breitling
Price: 5699 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

Our vintage and rare Breitling Chronomat reference 808 features a 39mm case and white dial, powered by a venus 175 manually wound movement, and rotating bezel. The chronograph seconds and minute counter have red hands, the seconds counter silver. Offering a very different appearance to the more commonly seen Navitimer, this example is presented in outstanding condition given its age, which we date to c.1962, with a serial of 95 ****. A generic leather strap and steel tang buckle are fitted. A superb and practical vintage Breitling chronograph.

Creator:

Breitling

Period:

1960-1969

Date of Manufacture:

1962

Condition:

See 'Item Description'.

Seller Location:

Canterbury, GB

Reference Number:

Seller: W49421stDibs: LU2134222259702

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Breitling

For pilots and others in love with flight, no brand is more closely associated with the world of aviation than Breitling. From the beginning, watchmaker Léon Breitling, who opened his shop in the Swiss Jura Mountains in 1884, was focused on chronographs and their uses in the burgeoning fields of sports, science and industry.

After Léon’s death, in 1914, his son Gaston continued along his father’s trajectory. An early fan of aeronautics, Gaston introduced one of the first wrist-worn chronographs, a welcome upgrade for pilots used to executing complex maneuvers while juggling a pocket watch.

In 1934, Gaston’s son Willy made another leap in the chronograph’s evolution, patenting the first wristwatch with two pushers — one to start and stop elapsed time and one to reset — a feature now taken for granted.

But perhaps the most significant development under Willy’s leadership was the Chronomat watch. Introduced in 1942, it featured a patented rotating slide-rule bezel for making calculations on the fly. This innovation led to the 1952 creation of the brand’s signature timepiece: the Breitling Navitimer.

Designed in partnership with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, it was adopted as the official watch of the AOPA in 1959 and remains the world’s most iconic pilot’s watch. Not content to rule just the air, Breitling developed dive watches as well, including the Superocean, released in 1957, and the Transocean, which followed in 1958. The house also took its show on the road, producing dashboard clocks and then watches in partnership with luxury automaker Bentley.

The Navitimer, however, still reigns supreme among pilots everywhere. Given the stature earned by Top Gun since its release — as well as the excitement around Top Gun: Maverick — it's never too late to pick up a vintage Breitling Top Gun Navitimer, displaying the official logo of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, for yourself or your favorite wingman.

Find a range of Breitling watches on 1stDibs.