Breitling
patrouille suisse navitimer - Limited Edition Vintage

Vintage pilot's watch: Breitling Old Navitimer Aerobatic Series, Patrouille Suisse edition from 1993. A limited series of 1000 pieces created in tribute to the Swiss Air Force’s aerobatic display team—a six-aircraft F-5E Tiger II formation with the motto: Precision – Safety – Perfection.

The Patrouille Suisse, founded on August 22, 1964, is composed of experienced Air Force pilots specially trained in aerobatics. Their home base is the military airfield of Emmen.

This pilot chronograph measures 41.5 mm and is powered by an automatic mechanical movement: the Calibre 13 with date display. The logo of the Patrouille Suisse is engraved on the caseback and also appears in color on the dial. The Calibre 13 is based on the Valjoux 7750, a direct descendant of the Venus 188 movement produced between 1948 and 1966, which was used by Breitling in the 1950s and 60s. This shock-resistant movement features a small seconds display, 25 jewels, and beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, offering a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. Notably, the limited edition bearing the Patrouille Suisse colors shares the same Breitling reference number as the classic model: A13022. From a collector’s perspective, this edition remains one of the emblematic pieces that marked Breitling’s return to the world of aviation sports, and is among the most sought-after models due to its testimonial value and limited availability outside Switzerland.

This limited series was conceived by Ernest Schneider, the former Swiss military officer who led the brand after its acquisition by Sicura. Driven by his passion for aviation, Schneider reconnected Breitling with its historic DNA by reviving iconic models from the brand’s golden age (see the article "The Renaissance of Breitling" on the "Brand Stories" page). From a collector’s standpoint, these early 90s revival models by Breitling have become increasingly rare and are sought after for their historical significance.