Breitling’s New F1 Chronograph Blends Heritage Looks with Modern Materials

Its a classic Navitimer chronograph, only lighter.

Close-up of a silver chronograph watch with black textured dial, white subdials, and black woven strap with white stitching.

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Published February 9, 2026

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The term “tool watch” can be kinda vague with some brands, but not with Breitling. The Swiss watchmaker’s best-known collections exhibit purpose-built designs that, even if we don’t know exactly how they work, clearly perform a task beyond displaying the time.

There is no better or more famous example than the Navitimer, a wristwatch equipped with a chronograph and slide rule to assist pilots in making mid-air calculations.

Breitling Navitimer chronograph watch with black dial, white subdials, and black fabric strap on yellow background. — The Navitimer B01 Chrono AMA F1 features subtle visual ties to the team on the dial and strap.

While specifically designed for aviation, the complex timekeeping tool has a long history of overlapping into the world of auto racing. That heritage has been tapped for Brelitling’s partnership with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Racing Team, which debuts with the 2026-2027 season.

Along with Breitling branding on the team cars and gear, the partnership is celebrated with the limited-edition Navitimer B01 Chronograph Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team. This mouthful of a watch blends design elements from the 1950s — the decade when the Navitimer was invented, and Aston Martin first competed in Formula One — with modern materials.

Breitling Navitimer chronograph watch with black dial, white subdials, and black strap with yellow lining on a wrist. — The dial is framed by the Navitimer’s signature three-tier slide rule bezel.

The case and dial maintain much of Navitimer’s heritage appearance, including the three-tiered slide rule bezel, winged-shield logo, and snailed subdials — comprising a 30-minute counter at 3:00, a 12-hour counter at 6:00 and a small seconds at 9:00.

There is a lone numeral hour marker at 12:00, while the rest are dashes, and the date window is tucked away inside the 6:00 subdial. Every informative detail on the dial, including the hour and minute hands, is coated in green-glowing Super-Luminova.

Breitling Navitimer watch with black dial, luminous blue markers, three silver subdials, and black leather strap. — The Navitimer dial fully lumed, covering every important dial detail.

The 43mm case is dominated by the overhanging coin-edge bezel, which makes the pushers and signed crown look small, and creates the substantial impact of a beautifully complex machine on the wrist.

Where the Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team makes its mark on this classic Navitimer is with a subtle upgrade in materials.

Ready to race

At arm’s length, the only detail that really sets this Navitimer apart is the neon yellow chronograph seconds hand, which matches the racing team’s accent color. Just like the cars, it is used in tastefully restrained measure, also appearing on the sides of the custom leather strap.

The chronograph seconds hand and the strap’s sidewall feature the racing team’s neon yellow accent color.

Breitling

A closer look reveals the complex texture of the carbon fiber dial, which uses the material commonly found in F1 cockpits to create a stone-like mosaic with shades of the racing team’s black and green colors. It also serves to make the watch light enough to wear on race day.

The other factor that reduces weight is the titanium case, caseback ring and bezel frame. This is notably the first time Breitling has used the alloy in a standard Navitimer chronograph, and it is finished with a combination of brushed surfaces and polished edges.

Close-up of a stainless steel watch back showing the intricate movement with "Aston Martin Formula One Team" engraving and teal leather strap. — The Breitling Caliber B01 movement has a custom tungsten rotor with a black PVD coating.

The Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team branding is harder to miss on the reverse side, thanks to a sapphire crystal exhibition caseback. It puts the in-house Caliber B01 automatic movement on full display, featuring a tungsten rotor with a black PVD coating and an etched team logo.

This powerful COCS-certified chronograph engine has
a column-wheel, a vertical clutch, beats at 4Hz and offers a 70-hour power reserve.

Availability and price

Unlike most other F1 watches released in recent years, Breitling has left its mid-century design intact. I appreciate how the modern racing team is tied in through material updates that don’t disrupt the well-loved look.

The Breitling B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team is available for preorder now from Breitling for $11,500. It comes on a black leather strap with the racing team’s yellow accent color on the sides and green underneath, and secured with a titanium folding clasp.

This release is limited to 1,959 pieces to mark Aston Martin’s first year in Formula One.

Breitling Navitimer chronograph watch with black textured dial, three white subdials, yellow second hand, and black leather strap.

Breitiling Navitimer B01 Chronograph Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team

Specs

Case Size	43mm
Movement	Breitling Caliber 01 automatic
Water Resistance	30m

$11,500 at Breitling

About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.

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