Horological Meandering

Dear watch friends, once again, I could not resist. 🙏 And honestly… this watch has been following me for months. So yesterday morning I finally brought the Breitling Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual home. If somebody had told me a few years ago that...  

The dial is dangerous. I am convinced Breitling secretly added some hypnotic substance to that ice blue color…

The dial color completely got me. In certain light it almost looks like frozen metal mixed with old aviation instruments. Very hard to resist… And PLEASE: do not examine the movement too closely. 🙏🙏🙏

😂

technically this watch seems extremely well thought through. Actually had a long discussion about exactly this topic with the head watchmaker of my AD (after the purchase!) His opinion was quite interesting: he said the movement is technically extremely g... 

is a great watch

And it’s that simple.

I’ve collected breiting Watches over the years and they always found them to be solid and well-made. I believe the essential point that you made is that a great watch is a great watch! I believe you just cured my horological fatigue. I must go back and ex... 

The funny thing is: this watch did exactly the same to me. At first I only “respected” it. Then suddenly I started checking photos again. Then videos. Then configurations. Then reviews like a complete horological maniac. And after that… it was over. Now i... 

A lot of information on the dial but it is very well executed and quite attractive.

Absolutely agree. Normally a dial with this much information should feel chaotic, but somehow they really balanced it beautifully. A very difficult thing to do on a perpetual calendar. 🙏

Normally a dial with this much information should feel chaotic — but somehow they really balanced it beautifully. A very difficult thing to do on a perpetual calendar. ...  

Best, Ashot

Sometimes the watches we least expect become the ones we enjoy the most.

Your comment about the quick calendar change hits home. I do not have a traditional perpetual calendar but even on a date only watch once one sees the date advance almost quicker than the eye can see it is annoying to see it take an hour on some expensive... 

Exactly! Once you have experienced a truly instantaneous date or calendar change, it becomes strangely difficult to “unsee” slow transitions afterwards. And honestly, I completely agree with you: this should not be reserved only for ultra high-end pieces ... 

After I read this post, I did a deep dive into this reference. Now I can’t get it out of my mind.

Yes, it’s stainless steel with a Platinum bezel. After the anniversary year 2024, although the perpetual calendar with the B19 movement was initially introduced exclusively in red gold, in 2025 my stainless steel version with the ice-blue dial (which for ... 

I feel the same way.

You are so true! We have to develop more the feeling for our real „needs“ to have „real“ pleasure with our so beloved hobby. Thanks Thomas! Martin

I think many of us slowly evolve from “wanting everything” to understanding what we actually enjoy wearing and experiencing. No matter what others might think. And ironically, that often brings us back to the pure joy of watches again 😊

I like the way your thoughts have evolved and settled to this simple statement: a great watch is a great watch! Enjoy this great watch, Thomas! Best, Emmanuel

Coming from you, that means really a lot to me! And yes, I think my collecting journey has definitely evolved over the years. Less fascination with status or hype, more focus on emotional connection, engineering and authenticity. And somehow this watch un...  

that it ticked all the important boxes for you! I’m sure it will give you a lot of pleasure. Congratulations again! Best, Emmanuel

That dial color is seriously dangerous. In some lighting conditions it almost looks like frozen glacier metal mixed with vintage cockpit instruments.

And great post. Well said. Enjoy

The funny thing is: this brand was never really “on top of my list”… until suddenly this watch completely took over my brain for several months. Sometimes watches choose us. Not the other way around. ...  

The new variants are stunning, too. Stainless steel: Platinum: And before in 2024 the Red Gold version for the 140th anniversary: But in person - for me - the steel with ice blue dial is the best. ...  

The dial colour is superb, the complications usable and well laid out, but I’m not sure my eyes would be able to read them without help.