The Breitling Navitimer collection expands with a new chapter dedicated to one of the most important figures in the history of jazz. To mark the 100th anniversary of Miles Davis’s birth, Breitling unveiled the Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Miles Davis at Geneva Watch Days 2026, a limited edition of 500 pieces inspired by the Navitimer Ref. 806 Mk5 which belonged to the musician. Alongside it, the Lifetime Club Member Set makes its debut—produced in a limited run of just 50 numbered boxes and featuring three different versions of the Navitimer in stainless steel, 18-karat yellow gold, and platinum.
A tribute that brings together two worlds united by a strong identity: the history of the Navitimer, originally designed as an instrument for aviation, and that of Miles Davis, a legendary figure in music and a style icon.
Miles Davis’s Navitimer Makes History
When the Navitimer debuted in the 1950s, its purpose was quite clear: it was an instrument designed for pilots. Its distinctive feature was the circular slide rule, which allowed users to perform some of the calculations necessary for aviation navigation. Over the decades, however, the Navitimer has come to be worn beyond the confines of an aircraft cockpit. Its story has been told through pilots, astronauts, race car drivers, and musicians, ultimately transforming it into one of the brand’s most recognizable watches.
Miles Davis perfectly embodies this transition. The musician was known as much for his music as for his personal style: Italian suits, sports cars, and an effortlessly chic sense of style. On his wrist, he also wore a Navitimer Ref. 806 Mk5 , and it was this very watch that inspired the new design. According to Breitling, Davis’s Navitimer was the first to combine a reverse-panda dial with the Twin Jet logo, two details that we see again in this new interpretation.
The new Navitimer B09 captures the charm of the 806 Mk5
The star of the collection draws inspiration from the aestheticof the 806 Mk5. It features a 41 mm stainless steel case, 13 mm thick, with a lug-to-lug distance of 47.09 mm. The crystal is a domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on both sides, while the bidirectional bezel retains the Navitimer’s signature slide rule.
The black sunray-brushed dial features cream-colored Super-LumiNova luminescent elements, designed to evoke the patina of the historic model. Rounding out the design is the Twin Jet logo, another key element linking the watch to Davis’s 806 Mk5.
The AB09501A1B1X1 model comes with a brown calfskin leather strap and a folding clasp. Alternatively, the AB09501A1B1A1 model is available with the Air Racer stainless steel bracelet .
The choice of proportions is equally significant. The 41 mm case allows the new Navitimer to maintain a contemporary look on the wrist, while remaining true to the dimensions that defined the original watch that inspired the design.
The B09 Caliber: The Vintage Heart of the New Limited Edition
Powering the watch is the Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09, a movement that deserves attention because the choice of manual winding is by no means a secondary consideration. The B09 is a hand-wound mechanical chronograph caliber consisting of 244 components; it operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of 70 hours. It is also COSC-certified.
The decision to opt for manual winding is therefore not merely a nostalgic choice. It is what allows Breitling to bring the experience of the new watch closer to that of the historic Navitimer, while maintaining contemporary performance and standards. The transparent case back allows you to view the movement, while the special engraving commemorates the limited edition of 500 pieces and the centennial of Miles Davis.
The Lifetime Club Member Set
The second installment of the collection is completely different. The Lifetime Club Member Set is limited to just 50 numbered pieces and should not be considered a mere variation of the main limited edition.
Each set contains three Navitimer watches, crafted in stainless steel, 18-karat yellow gold, and platinum, respectively.
The packaging itself was designed to evoke the world of Miles Davis. Its shape resembles a trumpet case, complete with a handle, fasteners, and reinforced corners. The interior features blue as a nod to *Kind of Blue*, and it also contains a small red trumpet.
Steel and a Vintage Aesthetic
The first Navitimer in the set is the stainless steel model, with a black dial and white sub-dials. It is the configuration that most closely resembles the aesthetic of Davis’s historic timepiece and features the “reverse-panda” contrast already seen on the 500-piece limited edition. The case measures 41 mm and is powered by the hand-wound Caliber B09. The brown leather strap completes a design that remains very true to the vintage style of the original model.
Yellow gold for a more luxurious version
The second watch replaces the steel case with an 18-karat yellow gold case. The dial remains black with white sub-dials, while the strap is now black. The crown is also made of gold. The result is very different from the steel version, while retaining the same technical foundation. It is the most classic and luxurious of the three, and the one that’s probably best suited to be worn as a true sporty dress watch.
Platinum Chooses Blue
The third version is made of platinum and is the boldest choice. The dial is blue, with a white flange and white sub-dials, and is paired with a blue leather strap. The crown and case are also made of platinum. The historical reference remains evident in the dial’s design and the presence of the slide rule, but the overall look is decidedly more contemporary.
And perhaps that is precisely what makes this collection so compelling: it doesn’t try to repeat the same formula three times, but rather shows how the character of the Navitimer can change simply by altering the materials and colors.
From the Navitimer to the Breitling Social Club
The collaboration with Miles Davis doesn’t end with the watches. Owners of one of the 500 Navitimer Tribute to Miles Davis watches will have access to the Breitling Social Club for two years, while those who purchase one of the 50 Lifetime Club Member Sets will receive a lifetime membership.
The first Breitling Social Club is scheduled to open in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, in late 2027.
The initiative is part of Navitimer Stories, the project through which Breitling is dedicating 2026 to the people and stories that have helped define the Navitimer’s identity beyond its aviation roots. It’s an interesting approach because it shifts the focus from the object to the person who wore it. In the case of Miles Davis, the connection is particularly natural.
Price and availability
The Breitling Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Miles Davis is available in two configurations. The version with a brown calfskin strap, Ref. AB09501A1B1X1, is priced at €8,900, while the version with the distinctive Air Racer steel bracelet, Ref. AB09501A1B1A1, is priced at €9,450.
The situation is quite different for the Lifetime Club Member Set. Limited to just 50 numbered boxes, the set includes the three Navitimers, in steel, 18-karat yellow gold, and platinum, and is priced at €89,000.
Our Thoughts
The Navitimer dedicated to Miles Davis is one of those releases in which the connection to history isn’t used merely as decoration. Breitling went out of its way to find a specific Ref. 806 Mk5, which once belonged to a figure capable of transforming his own style into something instantly recognizable, and has drawn on its most significant elements without simply replicating them. The result works precisely because the watch retains its own identity. The B09’s manual winding mechanism, the reverse-panda dial, and the Air Racer all contribute to creating a cohesive whole in which the vintage aesthetic is never an end in itself.
Even more distinctive is the Lifetime Club Member Set, which tells the same story across three different levels, from steel to platinum. Ultimately, however, it is the relationship between Miles Davis and his watch that makes this story so compelling. The musician didn’t make the Navitimer iconic because it was made for him, he simply brought it into his own world.
A watch may begin as a professional tool, span decades of history, and come to represent something far broader than its original purpose.
by Francesco Marrari
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