Breitling announces two limited editions exclusively for the South East Asia market: their Navitimer and Superocean Héritage 46. The Navitimer is a Breitling icon, created in 1952 as a purpose built watch for pilots and aviation professionals. The Superocean is their professional diver watch which Breitling released in 1957.
Breitling Navitimer 01 Héritage 46: Melchers Edition
First created in 1952, the Breitling Navitimer is a wrist instrument which is purpose built for pilots and aviation professionals. The characteristic identification feature is the circular slide rule. This tool was the essential calculator in the days before the electronic calculator and computer (this was 1952, remember, and all flight calculations were done with a slide rule).
The Breitling Navitimer 01 weighs in at a rather huge 46mm in case diameter. But all the huge real estate on the dial made available by the case size is fully utilized by the complex elements which make up the slide rule on the periphery and a standard two counter chronograph.
It also featured a chronograph which allowed timing of in-flight navigation sectors with a precision which was quite advanced in the day. The design was originally a modification to Breitling’s Chronomat with the addition of a circular slide rule. However, Sinn has their 903 Navigation Chronometer which is almost a copy of the Navitimer. For the story on how Sinn is able to legally have a watch with essential the same design blueprint which is original to Breitling is told in our Sinn article linked.
Navitimer 01 (46 mm) – South East Asia Limited Edition, also known as the Melchers Edition.
This new limited edition (100 pieces total) Navitimer, also known as the Melchers Edition returns to the classic 46mm size (current regular Navitimer has a case diameter of 43mm). Certainly a watch which commands presence on the wrist due to its commanding size, and the very busy dial. The dial is not busy for its own sake, but it utilizes every bit of real estate to be able to display all the data and calculations that the watch is able to perform with a remarkable readability and clarity.
The SEA limited edition has a dial with two tone-on-tone counters: small seconds at 9 o’clock and a chronograph 30-minute totalizer at 3 o’clock. The dial looks like an aircraft instrument panel and is created using “par épargne” technique on a sterling silver base, enhanced by red accents in the shape of small counter pointers and a central sweep-seconds hand. The model also comes with a black leather strap accentuated by its red stitching.
The movement is the Brietling Caliber 01, developed and manufactured in-house by Breitling and certified by COSC.
Price: Navitimer 01 Limited Edition – S$ 10,670 with GST
Breitling Superocean Heritage 46
The Breitling Superocean first saw light of day in 1957 as Breitling’s answer to the professional diver for a watch. This announcement sees the Superocean Héritage 46 Blacksteel Limited Edition is issued in a 100-piece limited series exclusively for Southeast Asia distinguished by a satin-brushed steel case coated with a high-resistance carbon-based treatment, a blue bezel and blue central seconds, reminiscent of the great ocean depths.
Breieling Superocean Héritage 46 South East Asia Limited Edition
This announcement is the re-edition of the famous 1957 model, with a dial which bears the 1950s Breitling logo (without wings).
The dial remains clean and clear with a triangular luminescent hour hand ensuring readibility in the darkness of great depths. The styling continues with the perforated rubber strap with a clasp which can be adjusted for length. The Superocean Héritage is not all vintage. It incorporates some new technology, including the construction of the unidirectional 120-toothed bezel, water resistance to 200 meters (660 ft), the thick sapphire crystal glareproofed on both sides, and the chronometer-certified mechanical selfwinding movement. A watch with a rich past for modern-day explorers.
Superocean Héritage 46 Blacksteel – Melchers
Price: Breitling Superocean Heritage 46 Blacksteel – S$ 5,910 with GST
