The Best Accessible Breitling Navitimer Alternative Just Got Better

Technically speaking, the Sinn 903 is not a dupe of or homage to the Breitling Navitimer, but a legally produced execution of the original design.

When Breitling was hit by the Quartz Crisis in the late 1970s, it was forced to sell off some assets to stay afloat. German watchmaker Sinn seized the opportunity to buy the Navitimer design and reproduced it as the 903.

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Sinn

As a far more pragmatic tool watch brand, Sinn’s version of the iconic slide rule bezel navigation chronograph eschews the intricate flair and precious metals found on Breitling’s Navitimer. It also lacks the markup baked into luxury watches, resulting in a significantly more approachable price.

That’s not to say the 903 is any less impressive or beautiful than most Navitimer references, just that it satisfies different priorities. For example, Sinn uses a La Joux-Perret movement, as opposed to Breitling’s in-house Caliber B01. But the 903 offers 200m water resistance, sinking the Navitimer’s 30m rating.

Sinn

Sinn’s focus on practicality is reflected in the choice to make the 903 Ti II Anniversary, a limited-edition model celebrating the brand’s 65th birthday, with titanium rather than a precious metal. This is the first use of titanium in a 903 since Sinn’s 35th anniversary release.

The 41mm case, bezel and five-link bracelet are made from titanium, featuring a combination of satin brushing on the midcase, bezel and center links, with a polished finish elsewhere.

An additional brown cordovan leather strap with a titanium pin buckle is provided with the watch.

A sharp tool

The 903 Ti II Anniversary follows the 903 St II redesign introduced in 2024, with the Ti indicating a titanium case rather than the steel used in the St model.

Sinn

Breitling’s slide rule navigation bezel, with half of the logarithmic scale printed on the outer rim of the dial, steals the show, but there are other notable details to appreciate here.

The hand-applied hour markers, consisting of a 12 and eight dashes, nestled between the subdials, are made from a luminous ceramic, providing a 3D glow in dim lighting. The hour and minute hands feature matching Super-LumiNova with a blue glow.

The subdials are sunken with a snailed texture in the center and a track along each beveled rim. All three are rhodium-plated with black printed markings.

Sinn

A small seconds display is placed at 9:00, a 12-hour counter is placed at 6:00 and a 30-minute register is at 3:00. Many chronograph fans will be pleased to hear that there is no date window shoehorned in anywhere on the dial.

The dial’s radiant blue color is achieved by electroplating the pigment onto a metal dial plate with a radially brushed sunburst texture. A metallic Sinn logo is hand-applied just under the 12:00 hour marker.

This precision navigation chronograph is powered by a La Joux-Perret Caliber L112 automatic movement with a blued column wheel, blued screws, Geneva stripes and perlage, all visible through a sapphire crystal exhibition caseback.

Sinn

The 903’s 200m water resistance, which makes it far superior to the Navitimer for anyone spending much time around water, is achieved with a screw-down crown, screw-on caseback and a special bezel system.

Sinn is purposely vague about its proprietary system, but the DSP Technology consists of a special lubricant and alignment of the bezel and case to allow smooth rotation without compromising water resistance.

Availability and price

I appreciate the beautiful craftsmanship exhibited by Breitling watches and movements as much as anyone, but I also hate to be precious about my watches. The 903 Ti II Anniversary offers far more durability for less than half the price of the cheapest Navitimer chronograph.

The Sinn 903 Ti II Anniversary is available now from Watchbuys, the brand’s exclusive North American retailer, for $4,950. It is a limited edition of 500 pieces, with each watch numbered on the titanium caseback ring.

Because it is sold directly from Watchbuys’ North Carolina warehouse, the German-made watch is not subject to any additional import fees or tariffs.

Sinn

Sinn 903 Ti II Anniversary

Specs

Case Size	41mm
Movement	La Joux-Perret Caliber L112 automatic
Water Resistance	200m

• $4,950 at WatchBuys

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