An automatic Chronograph from Breitling in Stainless steel ref 1806
Circa:1970's
Case: Three-body, polished, nudged black bezel, screwed-down case back, lapidated lugs; chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o'clock. Case is in excellent condition with bezel in very mint condition.
Dial: Black dial with luminous baton markers, numerals, and hands; inner double time scale for Miles Per Hour and Kilometers Per Hour; outer revolving slide rule on silvered chapter ring; subsidiary dials in white at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock for 12 hour, 30 minute, and constant seconds. Aperture for the date. Dial is spotless.
Movement. Calibre. 12, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straightline lever escapement, monometallic balance, steel flat balance spring, micro-rotor.
Size: 48mm
Price: $3,950
1968 saw a completely new design of Navitimer, as the taste for larger watches dominated the industry. The resulting reference, the 816, was given the affectionate nickname "pizza." At an impressive 48mm, this was the first of the "big case" Navitimers, the second being its automatic successor the reference 1806 (referred to as the "fried egg") which is the above watch. That watch was fitted with the first automatic chronograph movement; the famed Calibre 11. The calibre was a joint venture between Breitling and Heuer and is now considered as important as the Zenith El Primero among watch collectors.
These Breitling Chrono-matic were made in rather small quantities between 1969 and 1974, while all of them were chronographs they were made in a multitude of variations. Each variation had a specific usage for navigation on Air, Sea or Land. Today they make great collector's watches. These Breitling Chrono-matic were made in rather small quantities between 1969 and 1974, while all of them were chronographs they were made in a multitude of variations.. Grab them while you can!