There are watch collaborations that need a lengthy explanation before they begin to make sense. This is not one of them. Pairing the Navitimer with Concorde feels almost inevitable. One is among the most recognisable aviation watches ever produced, while the other remains one of the defining aircraft of the jet age.
The result is the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde, a 593-piece limited edition that marks 50 years since Concorde entered commercial passenger service in 1976. Rather than covering the dial in aircraft graphics, Breitling has taken a quieter route, using colour, materials and a few carefully chosen references to tell the story.
For readers who follow Breitling replica watches UK, the original release is also a useful reference point. The Navitimer has enough distinctive details that small differences in the dial, bezel and case can quickly change the character of the watch, making this an interesting model to examine beyond the headline.
Why Concorde and the Navitimer Belong Together
Concorde began scheduled commercial passenger service on 21 January 1976, with flights departing from London to Bahrain and Paris to Rio de Janeiro. Flying at around Mach 2 and cruising at roughly 60,000 feet, it reduced long-distance travel times dramatically and became an instantly recognisable symbol of technological ambition.
The Navitimer comes from a different part of aviation history but shares the same fascination with flight. Willy Breitling developed the watch in the early 1950s around a circular slide rule that allowed pilots to perform calculations involving speed, distance and fuel consumption directly from the wrist.
That connection makes this tribute feel more credible than a simple logo collaboration. Breitling is not trying to attach an unrelated name to an existing watch. Both the Navitimer and Concorde already belong to the wider story of twentieth-century aviation.
The Blue and White Dial Carries Most of the Story
At first glance, this remains unmistakably a Navitimer. The familiar circular slide rule surrounds a traditional three-register chronograph layout, while the notched bezel and densely printed dial preserve the technical appearance that has defined the collection for decades.
The difference is in the colour treatment. Breitling uses a deep blue dial inspired by the colour of the stratosphere as seen from Concorde at cruising altitude. Against it sit three white chronograph counters and a matching pale slide-rule track.
Those white elements reference Concorde’s French nickname, L’Oiseau Blanc, or the White Bird. It is a small detail, but it works because the dial does not depend on knowing the story. Even without the Concorde connection, the blue and white combination gives the watch a clean reverse-panda appearance.
This is probably the strongest aspect of the Breitling Navitimer Concorde limited edition. The tribute remains visible to anyone who knows what to look for without overwhelming the design of the watch itself.
A 43mm Case With a Platinum Detail
The stainless-steel case measures 43mm across and 13.69mm thick. This is still a substantial chronograph, particularly when compared with smaller modern watches, but that size is very much part of the Navitimer’s personality.
A crowded slide-rule dial needs enough physical space to remain readable, and the 43mm format gives the various scales and chronograph registers room to breathe. Anyone considering this style should therefore think about the complete proportions rather than simply focusing on the case diameter.
One less obvious detail is the bezel. Breitling uses 950 platinum rather than stainless steel, introducing a precious metal without turning the entire watch into a heavy gold statement piece. The difference is relatively understated visually, but it adds another point of separation from a regular production Navitimer.
Water resistance is 30 metres. That is modest by contemporary sports-watch standards, although the Navitimer has always been an aviation chronograph rather than a diving watch. The front uses cambered sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, helping with readability across such a detailed dial.
The Number 593 Is More Than an Edition Number
Turn the watch over and the Concorde references become more explicit. The caseback carries inscriptions including “One of 593”, “Tribute to Concorde”, “Jetliner” and “Mach 2”.
The choice to produce exactly 593 watches is deliberate. Concorde was powered by Rolls-Royce Snecma Olympus 593 turbojet engines, so the edition number is tied directly to the aircraft rather than being an arbitrary production figure.
This is the sort of detail that gives a limited edition some substance. The number may mean little to someone simply looking for a blue Navitimer, but aviation enthusiasts are likely to understand the reference immediately.
Breitling Calibre B01 Inside
The watch uses Breitling’s Manufacture Calibre 01, an automatic mechanical chronograph movement with approximately 70 hours of power reserve.
It operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and provides central chronograph seconds together with 30-minute and 12-hour counters. A date display is integrated into the dial as well.
The B01 is an important part of the watch because this is not simply a cosmetic limited edition built around the Concorde name. Mechanically, it remains part of Breitling’s established Navitimer B01 family.
A roughly 70-hour reserve also makes practical sense. Take the watch off on Friday evening and, depending on its state of wind, there is a good chance it will still be running when it is picked up again after the weekend.
The Blue Leather Strap Suits the Watch Better Than a Bracelet Would
Breitling pairs the watch with a blue alligator leather strap and stainless-steel folding clasp. Matching the strap to the dial makes the entire design feel more coherent and keeps attention on the blue and white colour scheme.
A bracelet could make the watch feel sportier, but leather arguably suits the historical theme better. Concorde was never simply a piece of industrial machinery. Its appeal was tied equally to engineering, travel and a particular idea of luxury, and the leather strap reinforces that side of the story.
What Matters When Comparing Navitimer Inspired Versions
Anyone studying Breitling Navitimer replica watches should avoid judging this model by the dial colour alone. The Navitimer is one of those watches where proportion matters as much as specification.
On a Breitling Navitimer replica watch inspired by the Concorde edition, the areas worth looking at most closely include the spacing of the three chronograph registers, the density and alignment of the circular slide-rule printing, the shape of the bezel edge and the relationship between the white counters and blue main dial.
The caseback engraving is another obvious reference point. The genuine watch connects its 593-piece production run directly to the Olympus 593 engine, so an accurate visual interpretation should reproduce those markings carefully rather than treating them as generic decoration.
It is equally important not to assume that the internal specifications of a replica match those of the original watch. The Calibre B01, approximately 70-hour reserve, platinum bezel and official water-resistance rating described here are specifications of the genuine Breitling reference AB01389C1C1P1. Replica versions can use different movements, materials and construction.
That distinction is worth making clearly. Comparing the appearance of two watches is useful; presenting their internal specifications as identical without evidence is not.
UK Price and Availability
The genuine Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde UK edition is limited globally to 593 pieces.
At the time of writing, Breitling lists reference AB01389C1C1P1 in the UK at £8,100. Availability may become more limited as the production run is allocated, so the price and stock position should be checked again if this article is updated later.
| Brand | Breitling |
|---|---|
| Model | Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde |
| Reference | AB01389C1C1P1 |
| Case Diameter | 43mm |
| Case Thickness | 13.69mm |
| Case Material | Stainless steel with 950 platinum bezel |
| Water Resistance | 30 metres |
| Dial | Dark blue with white chronograph counters |
| Movement | Breitling Manufacture Calibre 01 automatic chronograph |
| Power Reserve | Approximately 70 hours |
| Strap | Blue alligator leather with folding clasp |
| Limited Edition | 593 pieces |
| UK Price | £8,100 at the time of writing |
Final Thoughts
The best thing about this Navitimer is that Breitling has resisted the temptation to make the Concorde connection too obvious. There is no oversized aircraft silhouette dominating the dial and no need for a large commemorative logo.
Instead, the story is carried through the stratosphere-inspired blue, white counters, platinum bezel and the carefully chosen production number. You can appreciate the watch simply as a handsome blue Navitimer, then discover the aviation references afterwards.
That makes the tribute more convincing than many modern collaborations. The Navitimer already has a genuine connection with aviation, while Concorde remains one of the most memorable passenger aircraft ever built. Bringing them together does not require much explanation.
For someone who already likes the size, complexity and character of a Navitimer, the Concorde edition adds a story without changing what makes the watch recognisable. And for collectors with a particular interest in British aviation history, that connection may be the part that makes this version stand apart.
