«A Pilot Favorite with Heritage and New Editions»
Since its debut, the Breitling AVI (Ref. 765 1953) Re-Edition has been celebrated by fans of the brand: Conceived as a tribute to the legendary "Co-Pilot" of 1953, the reissue impresses with its striking closeness to the historical original and combines rich heritage with modern mechanics. Adding to the excitement, five brand-new Classic AVI watches join the lineup from 2022, keeping the pilot's watch company with an XXL diameter and fighter-plane DNA.
The Comeback of an Icon
Only a handful of timepieces are known well beyond the watch world. The Rolex Datejust or the Omega Seamaster from the James Bond films are examples. And the Breitling Navitimer, often called the most famous pilot's watch of all time, certainly belongs in that group too. Amid the unparalleled fame of this classic, introduced in 1952 with its distinctive slide rule, another icon of postwar history is almost overlooked: the Breitling AVI Ref. 765, which appeared one year after the Navitimer and quickly earned the nickname "Co-Pilot." Like the second man in the cockpit, the model was an important complement to the Navitimer in its day.
Not everyone likes the complex look of a slide rule, and those who don't appreciate the simple, rugged design all the more. When it was released, the Breitling AVI paid homage to the Swiss manufacturer's functional cockpit clocks of the 1930s and '40s, which were not necessarily known for their beauty. Few people at the time would have expected that these watches would in turn receive a tribute of their own almost 70 years later. In 2020, the big moment arrived: with the Breitling AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition (Ref. AB0920131B1X1), the Co-Pilot returned to the spotlight, landing on the wrists of aviation enthusiasts and brand fans in a limited edition of 1,953 pieces.
Modern Only in Its Technology – and Two Small Details
The exclusivity starts on the caseback, where the inscription "ONE OF 1953" makes it clear: this pilot's watch is anything but off the rack. But first things first. The Re-Edition's stainless steel case measures 41.1 millimeters – not by coincidence the exact diameter of the historical model, since the entire reissue is modeled on its predecessor down to the smallest detail.
[box type="success" align="" class="" width=""]Not only the strongly domed Hesalite crystal, but also the three screws securing the bidirectional bezel and the overall shape of the modern Breitling AVI match the original exactly.[/box]The journey back in time continues on the all-black dial, whose Super-LumiNova is applied by hand and matches the luminous color of the 1950s model. The shape of the numerals has also been faithfully reproduced from the first Breitling AVI.
As on the forefather, the subdials appear in the same color as the rest of the dial. Even the syringe shape of the central hands is taken unchanged from the original. Inside the pilot's watch, however, modernity reigns. The 2020 watches are powered by Breitling's in-house caliber B09, which is largely identical to the B01 but replaces its automatic winding with traditional manual winding. Twenty-first-century perks include COSC certification and a 70-hour power reserve.
[box type="note" align="" class="" width=""]Incidentally, the current version departs from its ancestor in only two details: first, the water resistance has been increased to 30 meters; second, the "Geneve" lettering on the dial has been dropped, because Breitling's headquarters today are in Grenchen rather than Geneva.[/box]Even More Limited: Breitling AVI in Precious Metals
If you want to celebrate this ticking tradition with a prestigious case material as well, you can opt for an 18k rose gold version (Ref. RB0920131B1X1) instead of the stainless steel case. Limited to 253 pieces, it swaps the black leather strap of the regular Classic AVI watches for a brown vintage-style version. The pinnacle of luxury is a platinum version limited to 153 pieces (Ref. LB0920131C1X1), with a blue dial and a gold leather strap.
Both precious-metal editions feature an exclusive engraving of their respective production number on the caseback, are water-resistant to 30 meters, and are powered by the same hand-wound movement as the stainless steel model.
Stylish Relatives: The Aviator 8 Editions
All three new versions belong to the new Classic AVI collection, whose members are closely tied to the early history of the Swiss company. An established member of the family is the Aviator 8 Chronograph 43, whose name comes from the legendary Huit (French "huit" for "eight") Aviation Department. Founded by Willy Breitling in 1938, this special division was responsible in its day for producing the brand's finest pilot's watches and laid the foundation for the mystique surrounding Breitling's cockpit instruments.
Powered by non-in-house movements, the Aviator 8 Chronograph 43 scores with greater affordability and comes in several special models – the most popular being the military-green Curtiss Warhawk (Ref. A133161A1L1X1) and the black, red, and white Mosquito (Ref. AB01194A1B1X1). If you prefer simple elegance to elaborate chronographs, you'll also find what you're looking for among the Classic AVI watches: the Automatic Day & Date 41 (Ref. A45330101B1X1) packs the date, time, and day of the week into a timelessly refined design.
Next Generation: New Super Aviator in Goliath Size
From spring 2022, the Classic AVI watches are joined by five newcomers that measure a hefty 46 instead of 41 millimeters in diameter and therefore earn the name "Super Aviator." Each model in the new collection pays tribute to one of the most important fighter planes of the 1940s, with the legendary North American P-51 Mustang honored by no fewer than two editions.
First, a stainless steel version with a black dial (Ref. AB04453A1B1X1); second, an 18k red gold version with an anthracite face (Ref. RB04451A1B1X1). It is the only model made of precious metal.
Back in the world of steel, we find the elegant Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair (Ref. AB04451A1C1X1), honoring the American gull-winged fighter plane, as well as the military-looking Curtiss Warhawk (Ref. AB04452A1L1X1) in a green design.
The most striking is the Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Mosquito (Ref. YB04451A1B1X1), with a black ceramic bezel, white contrasting subdials, and red accents. It honors the legendary de Havilland DH.98 "Wooden Wonder," which, despite being built of wood, was one of the fastest aircraft of the '40s.
All five Super Aviator editions are powered by Breitling's in-house caliber B04, which adopts the technology of the better-known B01 with a column wheel and vertical clutch – 70-hour power reserve and COSC certification included. An added bonus: water resistance to 100 meters, which sets the Super AVI noticeably apart from the 30 meters of the AVI 1953.