Few machines have captured the imagination quite like Concorde—a marvel of engineering that transformed air travel into an experience of speed, spectacle and possibility. Now, Breitling revisits that golden age with the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde, a limited-edition timepiece that celebrates one of aviation’s most audacious achievements.
Transforming Flight
Photo: Philippe Collard/Unsplash
For more than seven decades, the Navitimer has stood as a symbol of aviation heritage. Originally introduced in 1952 for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), it was the first wristwatch to function as a flight computer, its circular slide rule enabling pilots to perform vital calculations mid-air.
Over time, it evolved from cockpit essential to cultural icon, worn by figures as varied as astronaut Scott Carpenter, racing drivers Graham Hill and Jim Clark, and creative luminaries including Serge Gainsbourg and Miles Davis.
The Concorde, introduced during the height of the jet age, similarly redefined expectations. Flying at twice the speed of sound and cruising at 60,000 feet, it halved transatlantic journey times while offering passengers a rare view of the Earth’s curvature against the deep blue of the stratosphere. Nicknamed the “White Bird”, it remains an enduring emblem of a more optimistic, future-facing era of travel.
More Than A Homage
It is this shared spirit of innovation that informs the Navitimer Tribute to Concorde. As Georges Kern notes, flying aboard Concorde was “an experience in itself”—a sentiment that underpins this commemorative release marking 50 years since the aircraft’s first flight.
Visually, the watch captures the essence of supersonic travel with a dial rendered in a rich stratospheric blue, paired with contrasting white subdials and an inner slide rule that subtly nods to Concorde’s distinctive silhouette. A matching alligator strap reinforces its refined yet purposeful aesthetic.
Limited to 593 pieces—a reference to the Olympus 593 turbojet engines that powered the aircraft—the caseback is engraved with “One of 593”, alongside “Tribute to Concorde”, “Jetliner” and “Mach 2”, the cruising speed that defined its legacy.
More than a collector’s piece, the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde represents a meeting of two icons shaped by the same ambition: to push boundaries and redefine what is possible. In an age where travel has become routine, it serves as a reminder of a time when the journey itself was extraordinary—and when the future felt thrillingly within reach.
(Images: Breitling)
