Breitling
patrouille de france navitimer - Vintage Cuir

Vintage Breitling Old Navitimer Aerobatic Series pilot chronograph, “Patrouille de France” edition from 1993. A limited anniversary edition of 1,953 pieces in tribute to the year 1953, which marked the founding of the French military aerobatic patrol, the aerial demonstration squadron of the French Air Force.

The Patrouille de France is composed of experienced pilots from the French Air Force, specially trained in aerobatics, and based since February 1964 in Salon-de-Provence.

This pilot chronograph measuring 41.5 mm is powered by a hand-wound mechanical movement with 18 jewels, based on the Lemania 1873/4 calibre — a luxury-finished version of the Lemania 1873. It is visible through the sapphire crystal exhibition caseback. This movement runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour and offers a 40-hour power reserve when fully wound. The Lemania 1873 is renowned for its reliability and its ability to withstand the extreme temperatures of a cockpit. It is also highly shock-resistant. These characteristics have led major watch brands to adopt it for their flagship models: TAG Heuer, Eberhard & Co., and even Omega, which used it as the base for its Speedmaster’s calibre 861. Additionally, Breitling’s calibre 12, which powers the Navitimer Cosmonaute with a 24-hour display, is based on the Lemania 1877 — essentially the same movement as the 1873, but with a halved hour hand rotation speed.

This generation of limited-edition chronographs is part of a series of timepieces — generally chronographs — that draw on the brand’s history to reaffirm Breitling’s strong commitment to military air forces. This strategic direction was set by company president Ernest Schneider, who led the brand’s revival in the 1980s. Passionate about aviation, he reconnected Breitling with the DNA of its golden age (see the article "The Renaissance of Breitling" on the page "Brand History"). From a collector’s perspective, these early models released by Breitling during its major comeback in the 1990s are increasingly hard to find and are highly sought-after for their historical significance.