Taking a short break from viewing the brand specific offerings that were showcased at the Baselworld 2014 watch and jewellery fair, today we have elected to return to one of the Breitling watches that we have not previously had time to feature. The Navitimer collection formed the main focus of our Breitling at Baselworld blog, and the supreme respect that this family commands should make it unsurprising to see a Navitimer again scrutinised in this post. This timepiece is the limited edition Breitling Navitimer 1461 Blacksteel watch, and we are very pleased to now have this sought-after chronograph in stock.
Breitling have experienced an immense amount of success with their distinct ‘Blacksteel’ timepieces – perhaps most notably through the Navitimer Cosmonaute and the Chronomat – and almost all of these sleek and darkly sophisticated wristwatches have been strictly released according to limited numbers. The Navitimer 1461 is another indicator of this trend, as only 1000 examples of this self-winding chronograph have been made. Breitling pride themselves on producing true ‘Instruments for Professionals’, and the capabilities of this special timepiece have proven to be more than professional in every conceivable respect.
The main appeal of the 1461 movement comes from the calendar system that it utilises. Taking its name from the 1,461 days that make up a period of four years, this automatic chronometer only needs to have its time corrected once every four years; and even this small adjustment is only necessitated because of the presence of a leap year. As an added augmentation, the movement of the 1461 – which incidentally consists of 450 miniscule component pieces – is also equipped to register the passing of moon phases, and this observation can be easily monitored thanks to the dedicated aperture. As has been alluded to, the timekeeping of the 1461 is certified as chronometer standard, so every aspect of this mechanism has been engineered to perfection.
At 48 mm in terms of case size, the Navitimer 1461 is a timepiece of significant proportions, and because of this the Blacksteel coloration actually provides more benefits than the simple carbon-enhanced durability. Allowing the timepiece to remain discreet whilst being worn on the wrist, the sober aesthetics are nevertheless imbued with admirable contrast by virtue of the myriad white details, and also the added luminosity of the central hands. As a timepiece that has taken considerable notice of lunar movements, this minimalist visual style really does suggest the impact of a starry night sky, and ensures that, whilst the watch may be unobtrusive, it will never fail to impress.
Like all Breitling Navitimer watches, the 1461 boasts a bi-directional rotating bezel that houses the now iconic circular slide rule. Designed with practising pilots in mind, this inconspicuous mechanism
allows a host of calculations relating to fuel consumption, air speed and distance to be made, and its consistent presence upon each and every Navitimer has resulted in it being established as a trademark of this hugely venerated range. A superb timepiece in a day-to-day sense, yet also possessing a series of technicalities that are sufficient to satisfy even the most ardent of enthusiasts, the limited edition Breitling Navitimer 1461 Blacksteel watch is available from Banks Lyon for 36 monthly payments of £180.44 alongside a 20% deposit. For more information about this exclusive chronometer, or to find out more about any of our other Breitling watches, please call us on 01524 38 48 58 now.
{star-snippet}