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.
Breitling 1884 Automatic Superocean Heritage Watch
By Breitling
Located in New York, NY
Brand Breitling Swiss Made Black Bezel Date Feature Movement: Automatic Case Material: Stainless Steel Bracelet Not Original Bracelet Material: Black Leather Case: 45,7mm Case Thickn...
$18,000
W 1.3 in L 7 in
Massive Lucien Piccard 18K Gold Diamond Sapphire Ruby Bracelet Watch Extra Dial
By Lucien Piccard
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
Massive Lucien Piccard 18K Gold Diamond, Sapphire & Ruby Bracelet Watch with Extra Blue Dial, 1950s Founded in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1923, Lucien Piccard became renowned for its e...
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Mens 14k Yellow Gold, Diamond & Enamel Jubilee Watch Link Bracelet
Located in Bernardsville, NJ
This is an eye-catching men's or unisex bracelet, crafted from 14k yellow gold with the popular jubilee design band in a polished finish. The front of the bracelet has a long curved ...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Victorian Hallmarked Silver Ivy Leaf Bangle 1884
Located in Wilmslow, GB
An antique Victorian Hallmarked Silver Ivy Leaf Bangle dating to 1884. Victorian hallmarked silver bangles are defined by their form. Most date to the mid to late 19th century - so...
$1,056Sale Price|20% Off
rare OLD CELINE Phoebe Philo Manchette gold tone watch link wide bracelet
By Celine
Located in Hong Kong, NT
rare OLD CELINE Phoebe Philo Manchette gold tone watch link wide bracelet Reference: TGAS/E00720 Brand: Celine Designer: Phoebe Philo Material: Metal Color: Gold Pattern: Solid Closu...
Jean Paul Gaultier Vintage Rare Collectable Watch Bracelet
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in Nice, FR
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER rare and collectable vintage watch bracelet. Silver tone with patina links featuring rectangular watch dials in a domed clear resin inlaid. Marked GAULTIER. Ind...
$7,975Sale Price|33% Off
H 0.36 in W 0.69 in Dm 0.69 in
Late Art Deco Delbana Platinum Diamond Watch-Bracelet Diamond Weight 3.05 Carats
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Art Deco "Delbana" Platinum Diamond Watch-Bracelet *Motivated to Sell – Please make a Fair Offer* Specifications: main stone: ROUND CUT DIAMONDS diamonds: 19 PIECES carat...
Diamond, Platinum
Carol Felley Sterling Silver Watch Galloping Horse 1980s
By Carol Felley
Located in Wallkill, NY
Vintage Sterling Silver Watch with Galloping horses making up the bracelet of the watch. Face is a Indian Head with the date 1911 on th...
Sterling Silver
Vintage CHRISTIAN DIOR BOUTIQUE Rhinestone Prototype Watch Bracelet
By Christian Dior
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage CHRISTIAN DIOR BOUTIQUE Rhinestone Prototype Watch Bracelet Features: - 100% Authentic CHRISTIAN DIOR BOUTIQUE. - Dior prototype watch. - Face and strap are studded with spa...
Obrey Modernist Circle Link Sterling Watch Bracelet
Located in New York, NY
Obrey Modernist Circle Link Sterling Watch Bracelet. Luxury watch maker Obrey was founded in Paris in 1951 by Emile Obrey. In 1966 they launched their first collection of modernist d...
Sterling Silver
Antique 2.16 Carat Diamond and White Gold Cocktail Watch, circa 1925
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An stunning, fine and impressive antique 2.16 carats diamond and 9k white gold, platinum set watch; part of our diverse ladies cocktail watch and diamond jewelry collections. This stunning antique diamond and platinum watch has a circular form. The wristwatch has a watch face displaying bold black Arabic numerals within a circular, minute marked chapter ring. This impressive ladies diamond watch is fitted with blued steel hands and has a plain crown/winder. The platinum bezel is encircled with twenty-five eight cut diamonds and accented with shaped lugs, each accented with a further four diamonds.. The anterior surface of the articulated bracelet style strap consists of two curvilinear links and conjoined with rectangular connectors. Each pierced decorated link is ornamented with further eight-cut diamonds. The diamond links conjoin with eight gate-style articulated links, securing to the reverse with an adjustable bar style clasp; this allows the watch to be worn at different lengths. This stunning antique manual wind wrist watch is fitted with a Swiss made 15 jewel movement. The interior of the watch case displays the hallmark for platinum (platine), in addition to the Swiss domestic platinum mark (chamois*, c - La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) and the reverse of the clasp bears the maker's mark (C&F), the gold mark (9, 375), the Birmingham Assay Office mark (anchor) and the date letter for 1952 (C). This ladies cocktail watch is supplied with an independent diamond grading report card. NOTE: The watch casing was assayed in La Chaux-de-Fonds and bears the chamois mark (1914-1934), this in addition to the style of the piece denotes the date as circa 1925, with a later added gate style strap and clasp. Images do not always reflect the true color and brilliance of gemstones and diamonds. The video however provides a truer representation of the actual color and showcases each stone of this example of antique diamond jewelry. Condition This ladies antique cocktail watch...
Diamond, 9k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Chanel J12 Black Ceramic Automatic Midsize Unisex Watch Black Ceramic Face
By Chanel
Located in New York, NY
Chanel, Paris, J12 Automatic 200M. Black dial enhanced by luminous hands. Black ceramic case with a black ceramic band. Automatic movement. 200 meters / 660 feet water resistance. ...
Steel
Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Bracelet with Diamonds and Peek-A Boo Swiss Geneva Watch
Located in Boston, MA
This extraordinary vintage piece is a true masterclass in luxury craftsmanship and design innovation. Handcrafted from heavy 18K yellow gold, the panther-style bracelet features meticulously corrugated links that exude a powerful, textured elegance. Interspersed throughout the bracelet are 28 white gold sections, each one expertly set by hand with four round brilliant diamonds, totaling an impressive 2.80 carats of scintillating brilliance. The diamonds, graded G-H in color and VS in clarity, are a testament to the exceptional quality and attention to detail in this piece's construction. Designed to fit a wrist size of 6 to 6.5 inches, the bracelet strikes a perfect balance between opulence and wearability. In addition to the true showstopper of this bracelet, is the ingenious "peek-a-boo" feature, revealing a hidden Swiss Geneva watch...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
BREITLING Stainless Steel Chronomat Chronograph Wristwatch with Yellow Gold Accents
By Breitling
Located in Firenze, IT
Breitling automatic Chronomat, circa 1990s. Tonneau self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with yellow gold accents to the b...
Stainless Steel, 18k Gold