Coming on the heels of the success of Singapore Airlines (SIA)-themed lifestyle products such as The Upcycling Project‘s fashion and homeware items made from retired parts of SIA aircraft, as well as the Batik Flora reed diffuser and eau de toilette spray perfume, SIA introduces something new that is sure to excite aviation enthusiasts: three limited edition pilot’s watches made in collaboration with esteemed Swiss watch brand Breitling as it marks the 70th anniversary of its iconic Navitimer timepiece.
The final product design of the limited-edition watches was a collaborative effort by Breitling together with valuable input from SIA pilots alongside the KrisShop team.
Both the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41 Singapore Airlines Limited Edition and the Navitimer Automatic 38 Singapore Airlines Limited Edition feature Breitling’s legendary pilot’s watch in SIA’s distinct shade of blue, but where the former has an open-caseback view, the latter has an eye-catching batik print caseback design that pays homage to the airline’s rich heritage.
The Navitimer – short for navigation and timer – is beloved by pilots who use it to plan their flights using the circular slide rule located on the watch’s rotating bezel, and by collectors who like its sophisticated mechanism. Here’s what you need to know about the exciting collaboration between Breitling and SIA – two icons in the aviation industry.
While all Navitimer watches have a circular slide rule, baton indexes, a trio of chronograph counters and a notched bezel for easy grip, the three limited-edition SIA watches feature a flattened side rule and a domed sapphire crystal that creates the illusion of a more compact profile.
What distinguishes the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41 from the Navitimer Automatic 38, apart from its 41mm diameter, is a slimmer silhouette on the oscillating weight that enhances the open-caseback view of the watch’s mechanism – the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, which is certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). This movement is backed by a five-year warranty, provides approximately 70 hours of power reserve and allows the wearer to change the date – now visible through a discreet window in the subdial at 6 o’clock – at any time.
The Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41 comes in a distinctive shade of blue that is representative of both Breitling and SIA. It is further enhanced with rose gold indexes and hands that add a touch of elegance and luxury. The quintessential mark of aviation distinction, the Singapore Airlines logo is etched on the crown and on the caseback with “One of 100″.
The Navitimer Automatic 38 Singapore Airlines Limited Edition has many of the same features as the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41, but unique to this timepiece is its eye-catching batik print caseback that pays homage to the Singapore Airline’s rich heritage. While the Navitimer Automatic 38 omits the subdials, it retains a date window at the six o’clock position for a cleaner look. The watch’s Breitling 17 movement offers a 38-hour power reserve, with a two-year warranty. Like the B01 Chronograph, it comes in a distinctive shade of blue representative of both brands, and is further enhanced by rose gold indices and hands for a touch of elegance.
Breitling’s final offering in the collection is the Breitling x SIA Pilot’s Edition Navitimer that will be available exclusively to pilots of the Singapore Airlines Group. It features the same movement, colour scheme and etched crown logo as the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41, as well as a flattened side rule and a domed sapphire crystal that creates the illusion of a more compact profile. It distinguishes itself with a larger 43mm case, which lends the watch an impressive wrist presence, and also increases the legibility of the dial, making it indispensable to professional pilots. The watch’s open-caseback is also engraved with its unique number and attitude indicator – an instrument all professional pilots will be familiar with.
The Navitimer Singapore Airlines Limited Edition will retail exclusively on KrisShop, under the Batik Label concept store, which spotlights one-of-a-kind collaborations featuring Singapore Airlines’ Batik Motif.