Recently I found on my story about the top ten ladies’ watches of BaselWorld 2018, one of the reader comments was critical of the bling factor in some of my choices. But the fact was that some women watch aficionados who are familiar with men would rather have great men watch. What’s more, the Breitling Navitimer 1 Automatic 38 does fit for men or his female friends. It is a scaled-down, slightly redesigned version of iconic men watch from Breitling with a great movement, a sporty look, and vintage style which are not seen often on a ladies’ watch. 
The new style of Breitling has been rolled out over the past several months carefully by new CEO Georges Kern and CVC Capital Partners, but not including a new ladies’ collection. However, the first smaller versions of the redesigned men models were included. The Navitimer 1 Automatic 38 was inspired by a Navitimer from the 1950s called the Reference 66, a three-hand watch. The absence of chronograph sub-dials makes the dial cleaner than the modern Navitimer, but the inclusion of a slide rule makes it less than the much-lauded Navitimer 8 which was introduced in the fall. In my opinion, the beaded bezel which is somewhat decorative takes the edge off the technical look of the slide rule and the red-tipped second’s hand. Also, the watch contains the Breitling automatic Caliber 17 (an ETA 2824-2 base) with COSC chronometer certification and a 40-hour power reserve.
To revamp the Breitling collection better, Kern brought in Guy Bove, who, as creative director at Chopard for the past 10 years, played an important role in launching that company’s L.U.C collection of premium replica watches with in-house movements. Before that, he worked for Kern for six years at IWC, a higher-end, yet less visible sports watch brand owned by the Richemont Group. Bove’s brief was to update Breitling’s line, including make it more cleaner and modern designs, also have to take inspiration from the archives (Breitling was founded in 1884). “The idea is not to remake old watches again,” says Bove. “I see it more as taking raw ingredients from older models and using them in new recipes.” Not all of those ingredients are cut. When Breitling introduced the Navitimer 8 without the slide rule fans were shocked, a defining feature since the 1950s. The inspiration for this new design was from onboard-chronographs produced by Breitling in the 1930s and 1940s, an era before slide rules.
The Navitimer 1 Automatic 38mm size is a sweet spot that works for both men and women, and brands are increasingly putting out unisex fake watches in that size. Another great one that comes to mind is the 38mm Panerai Luminor Due, introduced in January at SIHH. By the way, when I returned from the jewelry shows in Las Vegas, I found the same trend of jewelry. I saw a lot of rings, bracelets, and pendants that could work for also are intended to be worn by either women or men. This unisex trend appeals to what is being described as the “more gender-fluid” millennial generation, but even those who are older and don’t identify with that definition or with millennials at all can find a lot to appreciate in the unisex concept, especially those women who love men watches crazily. 
The Navitimer 1 Automatic 38 has a date window at 6 o’clock, a really nice extra function for an everyday watch. The dial on the steel model is either black or blue, with matching alligator straps with sporty white topstitching. There is also a steel version with an 18k red gold bezel and a beige dial with a brown alligator strap. The beaded bezel in gold and applied gold markers make it look like a completely different replica watch, in all it is more beautiful than previous Navitimers, despite the slide rule. In fact, I think it’s about as dressy as what most women really want in a day watch. Compared with other brands, it’s really possible to make a ladies’ watch without over-identifying it by layering mother-of-pearl, diamonds, flowers, or colored straps.
For the price, the Navitimer 1 Automatic 38 is priced at $4,860 with a steel case with a blue or black dial on a steel bracelet; $4,310 with a steel case, blue dial, and blue or black alligator strap; $6,360 with a steel and gold case and silver dial on a steel bracelet; and $5,820 with a steel and gold case, silver dial and a gold alligator strap. The rose gold model seems particularly feminine, especially on a bracelet, which is a model I would feel comfortable while wearing day and night. Generally, I feel that replica Breitling is really on the right track with its ladies’ pieces, researching and designing them with a unisex appeal by heart all the way. Sometimes a ladies-only collection is marginalized, but that isn’t likely to happen here. From this brand, keep to concern it and you’ll get more surprise on this way if you are fond of the unisex watch.
