Breitling pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Concorde with new Navitimer
Zach BlassA historic pilot’s watch brand pays homage to one of aviation’s most revered and legendary aircraft. This is the new Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde.
When I first saw the name, I thought: aviation watch pays tribute to aviation icon, sure, that tracks. But after a long streak of collaborative watches with tie-ins in recent years, Victoria Beckham models, NFL models, Aston Martin and more, Breitling, through experience and testing different approaches, has shown it knows how to ensure the details add up in a way that feels genuinely considered rather than just commercially convenient. So, did they this time around? Let’s get into it.
The backstory
First, a bit of scene-setting. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Concorde’s first commercial passenger service. The Concorde, if you need the reminder, flew at Mach 2 — twice the speed of sound — at 60,000 feet. That’s high enough that passengers could actually see the curvature of the Earth. It cut the transatlantic crossing roughly in half. It was nicknamed the White Bird. And it is this bit of backstory that explains Breitling’s execution of the dial.
The dial
The main dial is a deep, rich blue — described as the shade of the stratosphere as seen from the Concorde at cruising altitude. Set against that blue are white chronograph subdials, which not only offer a dark blue panda dial, but also reference the Concorde’s nickname, the White Bird. It’s subtle enough that you’d miss it if you weren’t looking for it, but once you know, it reads as intentional rather than incidental. The slide rule track on the inner bezel also picks up that white, tying the whole thing together. The indexes and hands are applied with SuperLuminova, so legibility holds up in low light, which, again, is in keeping with the Navitimer’s DNA as a tool watch.
The case
The case is 43 millimetres, stainless steel, and sits at just under 15mm thick — 14.94mm to be precise. Now, that’s not a thin watch. But here’s the thing with the Navitimer: it has never been about discretion. It’s about aviation – legibility and ease of handling the bezel are paramount. The lug-to-lug comes in at just over 49mm, which on paper sounds like it could be a wrist-swallower, but the slanted profile of the lugs mitigates the wear presence a bit. Ultimately, this is a watch that wears with presence and is meant to.
The bi-directional bezel is in platinum – a nice premium touch. It gives the bezel a slightly cooler, more silvery tone that separates it from the case just subtly enough to register, along with some added sense of luxurious heft. Its depth rating is 30 metres, which is standard for this type of dress-adjacent aviation tool watch, and the crystal is cambered sapphire, glareproofed on both sides.
The movement
The caseback is where some of the storytelling lives. It’s engraved with “One of 593,” “Tribute to Concorde,” “Jetliner,” and “Mach 2.” That production number — 593 — isn’t arbitrary. It references the Olympus 593 turbojet engines that powered the Concorde. That kind of numerological detail is exactly the sort of thing that either means a lot to you or doesn’t, but for those who know the aircraft, it’s a lovely nod. Inside is Breitling’s own Manufacture Calibre B01. It’s an automatic, COSC-certified vertical-clutch column-wheel chronograph calibre – which is the architecture you want to see in a serious chronograph — and delivers 70 hours of power reserve, making it effectively a weekend-proof calibre.
The strap
On the wrist, it comes on a blue alligator leather strap with a stainless steel folding buckle, 22mm at the lug tapering to 18mm at the buckle. The strap colour ties directly to the dial — it’s a matching blue. If alligator isn’t your thing, or you want to play with the watch a little more once you own it, these days there are a sizable number of aftermarket options to explore, should you wish, for a 22mm lug width. But out of the box, this combination works.
The verdict
What I appreciate most here is that the tribute is worn lightly. Breitling hasn’t plastered the Concorde’s silhouette across the dial or leaned into heavy-handed iconography. Instead, they’ve let the details carry the story — the stratosphere blue, the white subdials, the engine-count edition number. It’s a watch that rewards a little curiosity.
I think Breitling has done something quite restrained and effective here. Those who get it will appreciate the tribute, and those who don’t will still appreciate a dark blue panda dial – with or without awareness of the backstory. Whether it’s for you really comes down to whether you’re drawn to the Navitimer in the first place. If you are — if you believe that a 43mm pilot’s chronograph with a slide rule bezel is the right kind of watch to wear — then this particular execution gives you something real to hold onto beyond the base model. And if the Concorde means something to you personally, well, that’s only going to deepen it.
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde pricing and availability
The Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde is available now as a limited edition of 593 pieces. Price: US$10,600
| Brand | Breitling |
| Model | Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde |
| Reference | AB01389C1C1P1 |
| Case Dimensions | 43mm (D) x 14.94mm (T) x 49.07mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel, 950 platinum bezel |
| Water Resistance | 30 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Dark blue, white sub-dials |
| Lug Width | 22mm |
| Strap | Blue alligator leather strap, stainless-steel folding buckle |
| Movement | Calibre B01, in-house, automatic, COSC-certified |
| Power Reserve | 70 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph, rotating slide rule bezel |
| Availability | Now, limited to 593 pieces |
| Price | US$10,600 |