Breitling and Aston Martin are a Duo Now ft. New Navitimer

Breitling is officially in Formula 1 now, and instead of reinventing the wheel, they did something smarter - they tweaked what already works. Meet the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team. Yes, the name is a mouthful. No, the watch isn’t trying to cosplay as a race car dashboard. And that’s exactly why it’s interesting.

This one’s limited to 1,959 pieces, a little reference to the year Aston Martin first entered F1. Subtle. Very British.

A Pilot’s Watch That Took a Wrong Turn and Ended Up at the Track

The Navitimer is an aviation watch. Always has been. Slide rule bezel, busy dial, math-for-pilots energy. It was born in 1952 for people who actually knew how to calculate fuel burn mid-flight. 

So slapping an F1 logo on it could’ve gone sideways fast. But Breitling didn’t overdo it. Instead of pretending this was “always meant for racing,” they just nudged it in that direction.

And honestly? It works better than it has any right to.

 

Source: Esquier

Titanium Changes Everything

The biggest win here is the titanium case. At 43mm, this is not a small watch on paper. But titanium pulls a magic trick - it makes the whole thing feel way more wearable than you’d expect. Light on the wrist, balanced, and not trying to sink your arm through the table.

Lug-to-lug sits at 49mm, which is surprisingly friendly. If your wrist isn’t massive, this won’t feel like you are trying to work out anytime you wear it.

Thickness is still chunky at 13.7mm, but that’s Navitimer territory. You don’t buy one of these expecting dress-watch elegance. This is a tool watch with opinions.

Source: Watch i love

The Dial - Busy, But in a Good Way

Navitimer dials are famously chaotic. This one tones things down just enough without killing the vibe.

The dial is black carbon with little flecks of Aston Martin racing green. It’s subtle, not glittery, not too loud. The white subdials keep things legible, and the applied indexes do their job without stealing attention.

Then there’s the chronograph seconds hand - neon green-yellow, straight out of the F1 colour palette. Same accent shows up in the strap stitching. It’s playful. It knows what it’s doing. It’s not pretending to be vintage.

And thank you, Breitling, for not putting Aston Martin text on the dial. We’ve collectively moved past car logos plastered everywhere. This feels grown-up.

Yes, the Slide Rule Is Still Here

Before you ask - yes, the slide rule bezel is still fully functional. You can still calculate airspeed, fuel consumption, time en route, or whatever else pilots love calculating for fun.

Will anyone use it at the racetrack? Absolutely not. But that’s kind of the charm. It’s still a Navitimer. Breitling didn’t neuter it just to fit the F1 narrative.

Think of it like wearing driving shoes to the airport. Technically unnecessary, emotionally correct.

Source: Revolution watch

Inside - The B01, Because Of Course It Is

Inside is Breitling’s in-house B01 chronograph movement, and at this point, it’s a known quantity. Column wheel, vertical clutch, COSC-certified, smooth pushers, zero drama.

It’s reliable, well-finished, and proven. No experimental nonsense, just a solid engine doing its thing.

Through the sapphire caseback, you’ll spot the rotor with Aston Martin and Formula One Team branding. This is where Breitling lets the partnership breathe a bit more - appropriately tucked away where it won’t haunt you in ten years.

Strap, Caseback, and the Little Details

The embossed leather strap is very much not classic Navitimer, and that’s fine. The green-accented stitching ties everything together nicely, and the underside colour should remind you of the Aston Martin livery.

Flip it over, and you’ll find “One of 1959” engraved on the caseback, plus “Instruments for Drivers.” Slightly cheesy? Maybe. But it’s harmless, and at least it’s honest about what this watch is trying to be.

Water resistance stays at 30 meters, which is standard Navitimer behaviour. This isn’t going swimming, and it never wanted to.

Price and the Big Question

Price lands around €9,300, which puts it only slightly above the regular steel Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43. For titanium, a limited run, and a clean motorsport tie-in, that premium feels fair.

Is this a hardcore racing watch? No.
Is it secretly still a pilot’s watch? Absolutely.
Does that make it worse? Not at all.

Final Thoughts - A Surprisingly Mature Move

This could’ve been lazy. It could’ve been covered in logos and carbon fibre.

Instead, Breitling played it cool.

They took an icon, lightened it up, added just enough motorsport flavour, and didn’t insult anyone’s intelligence in the process. The Navitimer doesn’t pretend it’s a Daytona, and that’s a good thing.