The fake Breitling Navitimer 1 Automatic 38 is a scaled-down, newly designed version of an iconic men’s watch from Breitling with a perfect movement, a sporty appearance, and vintage styling. It’s something that you seldom find, so let’s say it’s unique and special.
Breitling’s revamp, carefully rolled out over the past several months by new CEO Georges Kern and CVC Capital Partners, does not consist of a new ladies’ collection – not yet. It does however include the first of what are possibly to be smaller versions of the redesigned men’s models. The Navitimer 1 Automatic 38 replica watch was encouraged by a Navitimer from the 1950s called a three-hand watch. The absence of chronograph sub-dials makes the dial cleaner than the modern Navitimer, but the inclusion of a slide rule makes it less so than the much-lauded Navitimer 8, introduced in the fall. The beaded bezel, which is somewhat decorative in my view, takes the edge off the technical look of the slide rule and the red-tipped seconds-hand. It contains the fake Breitling automatic Caliber 17with COSC chronometer certification and a 40-hour power reserve.
In order to upgrade the Breitling collection, Kern brought in Guy Bove, who, as creative director at Chopard for the past 10 years, was instrumental in releasing that company’s L.U.C collection of premium watches with in-house movements. “The idea is not to remake old watches again,” says Bove. “I see it more as taking raw ingredients from older models and using them in new recipes.” Not all of those ingredients made the cut. Fans were surprised when the replica Breitling introduced the Navitimer 8 without the slide rule, a defining feature since the 1950s. It wasn’t that the slide rule was deemed out of date; actually it was too fashionable. The new design was inspired by on board-chronographs produced by Breitling in the 1930s and 1940s, an era before slide rules.
The Navitimer 1 Automatic 38mm size is an amazing spot that works for both men and women, and brands are increasingly putting out unisex watches in that size. The 38mm Panerai Luminor Due, introduced in January at SIHH, is another great one that comes to mind. And by the way, when I returned from the jewelry shows in Las Vegas, I can report that jewelry is going in the same direction. I found so many rings, bracelets, and pendants that could work for – and are going to be worn by – either women or men. This unisex trend appeals to what is being described as the “more gender-fluid” millennial generation, but even those of us who are older and don’t identify with that definition or with millennial at all can find a lot to appreciate in the unisex concept, particularly those of us women who love men’s watches.
This popular replica watch has a date window at 6 o’clock, a really beautiful extra function for an everyday watch. The dial on the steel model is either black or blue, with matching alligator straps with sporty white top stitching. There is also a steel version with an 18k red gold bezel and a beige dial with a brown alligator strap. The beaded bezel in gold and applied gold markers make this version look like a totally different watch – one that is dressier than previous Navitimers, despite the slide rule. As a matter of fact, I think it’s about as dressy as what most women really want in a day watch.
