Breitling SA was founded in 1884 by Léon Breitling – a passionate and innovative watchmaker known for his sharp business sense. In 1915 – barely a year after he had passed – his son, Gaston, demonstrated he had inherited his father’s pioneering spirit by introducing one of the first-ever wrist chronographs with a separate push-piece above the crown. The brand’s innovations continued well into the following decades, and in 1952 – with Willy Breitling in the driver’s (or rather pilot’s) seat – the Navitimer made its debut. The model proved extremely popular among pilots and aircraft manufacturers and would later come to signify the beginning of Breitling’s avionic legacy. Much like it, the watch on offer here was initially intended for use by the armed forces, but it quickly won over a broad audience through its versatility and reliability.
The ref. A13388 Colt Chronograph incorporates all the essential assets which built the 1980 original’s success but updates them for the new millennia. For starters, the case size has been increased to a balanced 44 mm following modern trends, and the movement housed within has been updated to the COSC-certified Breitling caliber B17. The unidirectional bezel atop the case features engraved hour markers and is adorned with four rider tabs – a Breitling hallmark – which guarantee optimal handling while also protecting the AR-coated sapphire crystal. The black dial underneath the non-reflective crystal is contrasted by a set of luminescent applied indices and sword hands, which ensure legibility regardless of lighting conditions. The cherry on top – the chronograph subdials come in a contrasting white, making for an alluring panda-esque look. As far as WR rating is concerned, the A13388 is water-resistant down to 200 meters (660 ft) thanks to, among other things, its reinforced screw-down crown.
Our offering is in superb condition – just serviced and polished per OEM specs, but – regrettably – comes only with its box – no papers. It is outfitted with its OEM bracelet, which mirrors the finishing of the case.
Covered by a limited warranty of 1 year, starting on the date of purchase.
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| Complications/Functions | Chronograph, Chronometer, Date, Luminous hands, Luminous indices, Quick Set, Rotating bezel, Screw-down crown, Small seconds, Tachymeter |