Breitling Navitimer 'Mille Miglia'
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1966
Maker / issuer
BreitlingThis Breitling Navitimer, identified as a 'Mille Miglia' variant, is a wristwatch produced in a limited edition of approximately 100 units featuring a solid 18K gold case.
Dating to 1966, the timepiece includes an internally-rotatable bezel designed as a slide-rule navigation computer. The dial is black with three contrasting sub-dials and is signed 'Breitling Geneve'. The watch is powered by a Venus Calibre 178 movement. The object is noted for its provenance, having been owned by a member of the Royal Vintage Car Club Belgium who participated in the Mille Miglia rally, with specific details of this participation engraved on the caseback.
The movement condition is described as brilliant.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- 1966
- Type
- Chronograph wristwatch
- Maker
- Breitling
- Movement
- Venus Calibre 178
- Provenance
- Member of the Royal Vintage Car Club Belgium
- Case material
- 18K Gold
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Maker / attribution
- Breitling
Design
- Visible features
- • Three-register black dial with silver-toned sub-dials • Fluted, bi-directional rotating slide-rule bezel • Breitling logo signed on the winding crown • Top-mounted chronograph pushers
- Movement and Performance
- The watch is powered by the Venus Calibre 178 movement. This manual-wind chronograph caliber is a defining component of the watch's internal architecture, widely utilized in mid-century Breitling chronographs. This mechanism drives the chronograph functionality, with the central seconds hand and sub-dials operated via the pushers located on the side of the gold case.
- Case and Dial Construction
- The timepiece is housed in a solid 18K gold case, a material specification produced in a limited run of approximately 100 examples. The aesthetic follows the Navitimer design language, centered on a black dial configuration. The dial features three sub-dials and is marked with the 'Breitling Geneve' signature. A defining feature is the internally-rotatable bezel, which serves as a slide-rule navigation computer. This tool-oriented design allowed for complex calculations, consistent with the model's original application for aviation. The external case features two pump-style chronograph pushers and a signed crown.
- Provenance and Historical Context
- The watch possesses a documented connection to automotive history. It was formerly owned by a member of the Royal Vintage Car Club Belgium who was an active participant in the Mille Miglia, a historic open-road endurance race. Reflecting this ownership, the caseback of the watch carries custom engravings detailing this connection. These markings provide a tangible link to the specific usage of the watch within the vintage car community, distinguishing it from standard production models.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Exact number of units produced is only estimated at 'about 100'
- Research required: The specific identity of the former owner is not provided in the source