Breitling Navitimer Reference 806 Chronograph
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Early 1950s
Maker / issuer
BreitlingThis Breitling Navitimer reference 806 is a manually wound chronograph featuring the Valjoux 72 movement. It is identified by the source as a very early production example, as the company subsequently transitioned the movement to a Venus caliber.
The stainless steel case displays early-series characteristics, including a beaded rotating bezel with a higher count of machined teeth and prominent, wide-chamfered lugs. The dial has a deep gloss black finish with gilt printing, featuring the AOPA wing logo and early radium markers. Designed as a tool for aviation calculations, this model is estimated to have a production run of fewer than 1,200 units based on an analysis of case serial numbers.
The auction description reports that the watch remains in an unrestored state. Details regarding its service history or accompanying items were not documented in the provided source material.
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
- Type
- Chronograph
- Maker
- Breitling
- Model
- Navitimer
- Movement
- Valjoux 72
- Condition
- Unrestored
- Reference
- 806
- Place recorded
- سوئیس
- Maker / attribution
- Breitling
- Estimated production
- less than 1200
Design
- Visible features
- • Beaded rotating bezel with multiple machined teeth • Gilt printing on deep gloss black dial • AOPA wing logo on dial • Wide, prominent lugs on stainless steel case
- Reported Condition
- The auction description reports that the watch is preserved in an unrestored and entirely untouched state. There is no provided information regarding technical service records, original boxes, or accompanying papers for this particular watch.
- Case and Dial Design
- The watch is housed in a stainless steel case that the source describes as an early-series configuration. Key aesthetic features include wider and more prominent chamfers on the lugs and a beaded rotating bezel distinguished by a higher number of machined teeth compared to later iterations of this model. The dial is finished with a deep gloss black surface and gilt-printed indices. It is marked with the winged AOPA logo, identifying it with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and is fitted with indices featuring early radium luminous material. The watch was engineered specifically to facilitate navigation calculations for pilots.
- Movement and Production
- This specific timepiece is powered by the Valjoux 72 manual-wind chronograph movement. According to the listing, the use of this specific caliber was limited to the initial months of Navitimer production, after which Breitling switched to Venus-based movements for reasons that remain unclear. Based on an analysis of case serial numbers, it is estimated that the total production of this specific configuration was fewer than 1,200 units.
Identification
- Reference
- 806
- 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: The exact number of units produced is estimated from serial number analysis rather than official records
- Research required: Reasons for the transition from Valjoux 72 to Venus movements remain unknown