Breitling Aerospace

The Swiss manufacturer Breitling first introduced their chronograph wristwatch Aerospace in 1985. At that time, it still belonged to the Navitimer collection, which was indicated by the inscriptions on the dial and case back. Today, the Aerospace Evo belongs to the Professional series. One characteristic feature of the original timepiece was a set of grips on the bezel at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock. These bezel rider tabs call to mind the automatic watches in the Chronomat and Avenger collections. Thanks to the rider tabs, it's easy to operate the bezel even with gloves on. The hybrid display is also a characteristic feature of Aerospace models both past and present. It displays the time in both an analog (with hands) fashion and digitally on two displays. The Aerospace Navitimer was available in either titanium or as a bicolor model. The bicolor version was made of titanium and featured gold bracelet links and bezel rider tabs.

Breitling introduced the current Aerospace model in 2013. It is a chronograph that can time to 1/100th of a second and features an alarm, a GMT function, a calendar, and a countdown timer. One particular highlight is its minute repeater, which tells the time via auditory signals. You use the crown to control the watch, turning, pushing, and pulling it for each individual function. The quartz movement in the current models is a so-called SuperQuartz caliber. It's thermocompensated, COSC-certified, and up to ten times more precise than the average quartz movement. Over the course of one year, it only deviates from the official time by a few seconds.

The Aerospace has been Breitling's entry-level model for quite some time now. Models from the 90s could be the perfect fit if you're looking for a Breitling pilot's chronograph at a moderate price. At 40 mm, the cases of these watches are markedly smaller than those of current models. These timepieces are outfitted with either a quartz 988.332 or 998.332 ETA movement, also known at Breitling as the B56 and B65, respectively. In addition to its chronograph function, perpetual calendar, and second time zone, the B65 also has an alarm function. Pre-owned models from this period go for around 1,600 USD in good condition. However, for a never-worn model, prices can quickly rise to 2,600 USD.

At the turn of the millennium, Breitling introduced the SuperQuartz caliber B75 to the Aerospace collection. This movement is based on the ETA Thermoline. SuperQuartz movements set themselves apart with their extremely high precision and accuracy and imperviousness to fluctuations in temperature. Depending on its condition and the band (titanium, textile, leather, or rubber), plan to spend between 1,900 and 2,400 USD.

The Aerospace experienced a growth spurt in 2007, expanding to 42 mm in diameter. Changes were also made to its interior, namely the switch to the SuperQuartz Caliber B79, which is also based on an ETA movement. Since they are backlit, you can even read the digital displays under poor light conditions. Be prepared to spend about 2,400 USD for one of these timepieces.

When Breitling first introduced the Aerospace in 1985, it was a modern interpretation of the Navitimer . It featured robust titanium for its case and bracelet, four grips on the bezel, and a hybrid display. During the 1980s, these weren't typical Breitling characteristics. The trend at the time was quartz movements; they ran more precisely than mechanical movements and had a greater number of functions. This made the Aerospace perfect for professional use in airplane cockpits.