Breitling Navitimer II Automatic Stainless Chronograph Watch; A nice pre-owned men's Breitling Navitimer II Automatic Stainless Steel Chronograph, Ref. A1302012U1 Ser.13765, Circa 1996, self-winding automatic officially certified chronometer movement with chronograph function, stainless steel screwed-down insignia crown and pushers, sought after black dial with white sub-dials, night luminescent Arabic numeral and baton hands, sapphire scratch resistant glareproof crystal, integrated link stainless steel band with rapid deployment clap, comes with 3 extra links, also comes with the inner and outer presentation boxes and all the accompanying paperwork. This timepiece make an impressive gift or addition to any fine collection.
CASE SIZE: 40.30 mm. Diameter (without the crown).
CONDITION: Normal pre-owned wear, overall excellent working condition, keeps excellent time.
Breitling History
The company was founded in 1884, when Leon Breitling set up a workshop to make chronographs and precision instruments for industry. In 1914, Leon died and his son Gaston took over the company. The following year, in 1915, Gaston created the first chronograph wrist watch designed to be used by aviators. The successful creation of pilots watches culminated in 1936 with Breitling becoming the official supplies of timepieces to the RAF.
In 1942, the Chronomat was lauched. This was the first watch that had incorporated into its design a circular slide rule. This was followed in 1952 by the Navitimer, which was capable of performing the calculations needed for a flight plan. The major innovation for Breitling occurred in 1969, when they invented the first ever automatic winding mechanism, in conjunction with Buren and Heuer-Leonidas.
In 1979, the Breitling name was taken over by Ernest Schneider, who happened to be both a pilot and a watch manufacturer with an interest in electronics. He took over the company from the founder's grandson, Willy. In 1995, Breitling launched the Emergency Chronograph. This instrument has a built in emergency transmitter for civil aviation use, that broadcasts on the 121.5 MHz distress frequency which can be picked up by search aircraft. They have since launched an alternative version for the military that broadcasts on the 243 MHz military frequency. Breitling sponsored the first round the world balloon trip by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones in 1999 in the "Breitling Orbiter 3", and achieved much publicity due to the fact that both pilots were wearing the Breitling Emergency.
In 1998 the Breitling B-1 was launched, which was fitted with custom made microelectronics. In 2001, Breitling introduced "Superquartz", a quartz movement that is ten times more accurate than traditional quartz movements. In 2002, they opened a mechanical movement manufacturing factory called "Breitling Chronometrie" in the town of La Chaux-de-Fonds where the founder Leon established the business over 100 years earlier.
