1958 Breitling NAVITIMER AOPA 1st Model ref.806 · Venus178 · Original Gilt Dial · Vintage Collector Investment · Genuine Milanese Bracelet

“1958 AOPA Navitimer: the original pilot’s flight computer. First-generation ref.806. Gilt dial. Venus178. A true aviation relic.”

A watch born at the dawn of the Jet Age—where precision was survival, and design became destiny. This 1958 Breitling Navitimer AOPA 1st Model stands as one of the most important aviator chronographs ever created. A museum-grade relic of cockpit innovation, preserved with the dignity, history, and authentic patina collectors search years to find.

DESCRIPTION

Crafted in 1958 for pilots of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the first-generation Navitimer ref.806 represents the very origin of the modern pilot’s chronograph. Its early gilt-print dial, crisp AOPA emblem, and signature slide-rule bezel defined an era when navigation relied on courage and calculation—not satellites. Few aviation timepieces embody such purity of purpose and historical importance.

This example carries a gorgeously preserved gilt dial showing honest, naturally earned aging across 67 years. The numerals, scale markings, and logarithmic slide rule all retain their vintage character, presenting the visual depth that seasoned collectors instantly recognize. Every line, every fade, every whisper of patina contributes to a display that modern reissues cannot replicate.

Powering the instrument is the legendary Venus 178—a hand-wound column-wheel chronograph revered for its mechanical rhythm and resilience. The movement remains exceptionally healthy for its age, with steady amplitude and smooth pusher feel. These first-series Navitimers were built for real flight operations, and their mechanisms were engineered accordingly. This piece still carries that spirit of purposeful endurance.

Adding immense rarity is the inclusion of a period-correct genuine Milanese bracelet, an accessory rarely paired with first-generation AOPA models. Its architectural mesh structure creates a bold, mid-century presence on the wrist—an aesthetic harmony with the watch’s cockpit-instrument origins. Together, the watch and bracelet create a historically correct and visually commanding ensemble.

From aviation enthusiasts to blue-chip vintage investors, the earliest AOPA Navitimers continue to rise in global demand. This 1958 example, with original dial, correct Venus movement, and period Milanese bracelet, qualifies as an investment-grade collector’s piece—one acquiring not only a watch, but the very beginning of pilot-watch history.

CULTURAL & HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The 1958 AOPA Navitimer is not simply a chronograph—it is the first true wrist-worn flight computer. At the height of the Jet Age, it allowed pilots to compute airspeed, climb rates, fuel consumption, and navigation corrections directly on the wrist. Worn by pioneering aviators, commercial captains, and private aircraft owners, the ref.806 shaped an entire generation of cockpit instrumentation. Its legacy lives in every modern pilot’s watch.

“The Birth of the Pilot’s Wrist Computer — The 1958 AOPA Navitimer ref.806”
The Jet Age redefined flight—and the Navitimer ref.806 defined the wristwatch.
Originally designed for AOPA pilots navigating by manual calculation, this instrument allowed aviators to compute fuel, speed, and distance mid-flight. Today, first-generation pieces like this 1958 example are revered as the earliest professional pilot’s chronographs. Its gilt dial, Venus178 column-wheel movement, and period Milanese bracelet elevate it beyond a timepiece—into the realm of preserved aviation history.

ITEM SPECIFICS & CONDITION REPORT

Model: AOPA Navitimer 1st Model
Reference: 806
Year: 1958 (confirmed early-series configuration)
Dial: Original gilt-text dial, aged patina, no redials or refinishing noted
Movement: Venus 178 hand-wound column-wheel chronograph
Case: Stainless steel
Case Diameter: 42mm (bezel to bezel, without crown)
Bracelet: Genuine period Milanese bracelet (extremely rare)
Crystal: Vintage acrylic
Functions: Chronograph, aviation slide rule
Condition:

• Honest aging and period patina on dial

• Bezel scale: correct early type

• Movement operational at time of listing

• Bracelet: deep-mesh vintage Milanese, beautifully preserved
  Inclusions: Protective watch case for shipping
  Notes: 100% period-correct AOPA configuration, collector-grade authenticity

AUTHENTICITY & GUARANTEE 

This piece undergoes Japonista’s strict vintage verification process, including dial inspection, movement authenticity confirmation, case hallmark review, and reference consistency checks. No aftermarket components detected unless otherwise specified. Guaranteed original AOPA 1st generation Navitimer configuration.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Caliber: Venus 178
Type: Manual wind
Chronograph Architecture: Column-wheel
Beat Rate: 18,000 vph
Jewels: 17
Power Reserve: Approx. 45 hours
Complications: Chronograph + aviation slide-rule computer

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