The announcement of the Breitling Navitimer8 series started with a hashtag, #legendaryfuture

The new Breitling CEO Georges Kern was quick to announce the new additions to the Breitling roster, but not in the way we are used to. Watch models are usually released during the SIHH or Baselworld watch fairs but Breitling choose to release their new series by being active on social media and with a world wide roadshow for collectors, media and influencers.

The fact is that the official Breitling website isn’t even updated with the new models as I write this, all the information about the new products have come by social media.

The basics are as followed:

43mm Chronograph models in two different price brackets. Contrast dials and in-house movement available in steel or gold and one-colored dial options in steel or “blacksteel”. The in-house versions feature the B01 movement with all it’s benefits and the ETA-versions are aggressively priced.

Then there are the three handed versions in 41mm steel all blacksteel, all with ETA-movements. As always with Breitling, you get COSC certification regardless of movement.

There will also be a black dial and a bright dialed “worldtimer” with the in-house B35 movement.

The design of the new line is inspired by the Breitling airplane cockpit chronographs used for timing and navigation during the 1930s.

The name Navitimer8 is a little confusing but the Navitimer8 collection does not replace the regular Navitimer collection, it is an additional lineup to attract new Breitling customers that requests a watch with a more minimalistic design.