Supersonic Time

High-Flyers

The Concorde may have bowed out more than two decades ago, but Breitling has found a way to put Mach 2 on your wrist.

The brand’s latest release is a fresh take on the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43, unveiled to mark the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s first flight. Think of it as less of a watch and more of a very well-dressed tribute to the fastest cocktail hour in aviation history. At first glance, it’s classic Navitimer with slide rule, chronograph and all the pilot nerd essentials. But look closer and the Concorde references start to taxi into view. The deep blue dial (and matching alligator strap) mirrors the stratosphere, that surreal shade passengers glimpsed while cruising at 60,000 feet. The crisp white subdials and inner slide rule tip their hat to Concorde’s nickname, the “White Bird,” a nod to its sleek, all-white fuselage and unmistakable silhouette.

Sized at 43 mm and priced at $10,600, the piece is limited to 593 examples (a clever reference to the aircraft’s Olympus 593 engines) It beats with Breitling’s in-house Caliber 01, delivering a solid 70-hour power reserve. Flip it over and the caseback keeps the theme going: “One of 593,” “Tribute to Concorde,” “Jetliner,” and, of course, “Mach 2”. 

Never one to miss an opportunity, Breitling didn’t stop at one runway showpiece. The brand also rolled out a pair of Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar models showing you the brand wants you to go full pilot fantasy. Available in steel-and-platinum or full platinum (the latter limited to just 75 pieces), these 43 mm heavyweights combine the Navitimer’s aviation DNA with an automatic perpetual calendar. Powered by the B19 caliber (introduced in 2024), you get day, date, month, leap year, and a moonphase at 12 o’clock.

The full platinum version leans into the Concorde theme with a deep blue dial and white slide rule, while its sibling opts for an anthracite dial that feels more “deep space than departure lounge.” Buckle your seatbelt because pricing lands at $52,000 for the platinum model and $31,700 for the steel-and-platinum version. For a Breitling, those prices are steep considering most Breitling’s on the secondary market can be on your wrist for 20-35% off retail.

Breitling’s aviation credentials run deep. The original Navitimer debuted in 1952 for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, giving pilots a wearable flight computer via its circular slide rule. It even made it into orbit with the Navitimer Cosmonaute in 1963 which many don’t know is the first Swiss wristwatch worn in space. Sorry Omega.

So, while the Concorde may no longer be streaking across the Atlantic, Breitling is making sure its legend hasn’t gone subsonic. This time, the altitude mask is optional.