The breitling ref 806 was a groundbreaking watch that had the potential to revolutionize aviation. It was developed to meet a request from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), who sought an advanced wrist-worn chronograph that could perform all the calculations a pilot needed, including airspeed, fuel consumption, rate of climb, and flight time conversion.

Unlike most watches, the Navitimer included a slide rule on the rotating bezel that was designed to be easily and quickly manipulated by the pilot. As such, it became a must-have tool for professional airmen.

A re-edition of the original Ref 806, this expertly crafted timepiece is virtually identical to its 1959 predecessor. It features a 41mm stainless steel case with a domed plexiglass crystal, a signed crown, and a bi-directional slide rule bezel. It’s powered by the in-house Breitling Calibre B09, and comes paired with a black leather strap and a stainless steel tang buckle.

This re-edition is the result of an extensive collaboration between Breitling and vintage watch collector Fred Mandelbaum. Kern brought Mandelbaum into the creative process over a year ago, and the pair have worked hard to ensure that this is not just a homage piece but a genuine recreation of the original.

The re-edition uses Super-LumiNova to simulate the radioactive radium that was originally used on the dial, but without the risk of compromising its water resistance or affecting the chronograph’s accuracy. The result is a stunning example of how Breitling has stepped outside the box to create a watch that genuinely appeals to enthusiasts and collectors alike.

In addition to the re-edition, Breitling also recently launched a limited edition AOPA Navitimer that has been inspired by a very rare version of the reference 806. This one was commissioned by NASA for Scott Carpenter during the Aurora 7 mission in 1962.

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It’s a fantastic example of the early version of the Navitimer, with a bi-directional slide rule bezel and an original AOPA wing logo on the dial that was used for the American market. The black dial has luminous hands and Arabic numerals, along with subsidiary dials for 12 hours, 30 minutes and constant seconds.

You can tell that this is an expertly restored example as it shows only a light amount of wear on the case and the dial. The luminous indices and hands are bright and legible, and the sub-dials are easy to read too.

What makes this re-edition so exciting is that Breitling has actually sourced a specific example of the original, which they have deemed to be in excellent condition. It also has a highly-polished stainless steel case with a bi-directional slide rule bezel, a domed plexiglass crystal and a signed crown.

As with all the other re-editions, this one has been serviced by Breitling and comes with a certificate of authenticity as well as a box, papers and manual. It’s priced at $16,500 and will sell out fast, so be sure to get in early.