Breitling Navitimer Miles Davis: A Tribute To A Jazz Legend

The Navitimer worn by Miles Davis returns in a limited edition celebrating the centennial of one of jazz’s greatest musicians.

The Breitling Navitimer Miles Davis story is one where watchmaking, music and personal style meet. Long before tool watches became fashion statements, Miles Davis wore a Breitling Navitimer ref. 806 Mk5, turning an instrument originally created for pilots into an expression of individuality. To mark the centennial of Davis’ birth, Breitling now celebrates that connection with the Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Miles Davis, limited to 500 pieces.

Miles Davis was never an artist who followed convention simply for the sake of it. Throughout his career, the trumpeter and bandleader repeatedly challenged established ideas about what jazz could be, moving between styles and reinventing his sound whenever a particular direction began to become predictable. That same instinct extended beyond music, influencing the way he dressed, the cars he drove and the objects he chose to surround himself with.

When The Navitimer Became A Miles Davis Signature

For Davis, style was another form of self-expression. His sharp Italian suits and exotic sports cars contributed to an image that was as distinctive as his music, while his presence on stage had the ability to command attention without unnecessary gestures. In 1985, Bob Dylan described Davis as his “definition of cool”, a phrase that captures the combination of confidence and individuality associated with the musician.

The Navitimer became part of that identity. Davis wore the ref. 806 Mk5 during the mid-1960s, at a time when the model was still fundamentally understood as a professional aviation instrument. By choosing it for his own wrist, Davis gave the watch another meaning, demonstrating how a functional object could become an authentic expression of personal style.

That relationship is at the centre of Breitling’s latest tribute. The brand has taken the defining elements of Davis’ Navitimer and reinterpreted them through a contemporary watch, rather than attempting to simply recreate the historical reference.

Inspired By The Ref. 806 Mk5

The Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Miles Davis retains the 41mm case diameter of the original ref. 806 Mk5 while combining its vintage character with modern materials and a contemporary Manufacture calibre. Its black reverse-panda dial, white rehaut and contrasting white subdials reproduce the visual language associated with Davis’ watch.

The vintage-inspired cream-coloured Super-LumiNova® adds another period reference, while the Breitling “Twin Jet” logo reinforces the historical connection. The Twin Jet emblem was used on civilian Navitimer models sold through Breitling retailers, distinguishing them from versions associated with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Davis’ ref. 806 Mk5 was particularly significant because it was the first to combine the Twin Jet logo with a reverse-panda dial. Breitling has therefore preserved one of the details that makes the original watch especially relevant to this tribute.

A Hand-Wound Heart

Rather than using an automatic movement, Breitling has equipped the watch with its Manufacture Caliber B09, a hand-wound mechanical movement that reflects the era of the original Navitimer. Measuring 30mm in diameter and 6.73mm in depth, the movement contains 244 components and provides approximately 70 hours of power reserve.

The chronograph incorporates a column wheel and vertical clutch, with a quarter-second indication and a 30-minute counter. Operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, or 4Hz, the movement is also COSC certified, bringing modern precision to a configuration that remains faithful to the mechanical character of the period.

The movement can be viewed through the open sapphire-crystal caseback. A special engraving identifies each watch as “One of 500” and marks the Miles Davis Centennial, giving the limited edition a visible connection to the occasion it celebrates.

The Air Racer Returns

The Breitling Navitimer Miles Davis is available with either a hand-coloured gradient brown calf-leather strap with folding clasp or a stainless-steel Air Racer bracelet. The brown leather option complements the warm tones of the vintage-inspired design, while the bracelet introduces a more distinctive and sporty character.

The Air Racer is itself part of the story surrounding this watch. Originally introduced in the 1960s and later popularised by musician Serge Gainsbourg in the 1980s, the rally-inspired stainless-steel bracelet is recognised by its vented construction. For the new version, hinged links near the clasp have been incorporated to improve comfort and everyday wearability.

Its return adds another connection between the Navitimer and the world of music. Just as Davis helped move the watch beyond its original aviation context, the Air Racer carries its own history of crossing between professional equipment and cultural style.

More Than A Watch Tribute

The relationship between Miles Davis and the Navitimer is ultimately about more than a famous musician wearing an iconic chronograph. Davis chose objects according to his own instincts, and the Navitimer became part of that personal language. It was not simply an accessory; it reflected his willingness to choose his own path.

That idea is also central to Breitling’s wider Navitimer Stories celebration. Over more than 70 years, the Navitimer has evolved from a professional pilot’s instrument into a cultural icon, appearing on the wrists of figures connected to aviation, racing and music. Davis represents one of the clearest examples of how the watch could transcend its original purpose.

The new Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Miles Davis captures that evolution without losing sight of its historical inspiration. The reverse-panda dial, Twin Jet logo, 41mm case and hand-wound movement all point back to the era in which Davis wore his Navitimer, while the modern construction ensures that the watch belongs firmly in the present.

The Miles Davis Lifetime Club Member Set

Alongside the 500-piece tribute edition, Breitling is also introducing a more exclusive Lifetime Club Member Set limited to just 50 numbered editions. The set brings together three Navitimer 806 Mk5 tributes in stainless steel, 18k yellow gold and platinum, creating a broader celebration of the historical reference and the legacy of Miles Davis.

The stainless-steel and yellow-gold versions feature classic black-and-white reverse-panda configurations, while the platinum model introduces a blue dial with contrasting white subdials and an outer slide-rule scale. Each watch is paired with a gradient calf-leather strap, with brown for the steel model, black for yellow gold and blue for platinum.

The presentation itself is designed as part of the experience. Inspired by a traditional trumpet case, the box features a handle, twin clasps and reinforced corners, while its blue lining references Davis’ acclaimed Kind of Blue. A blue record marked “Miles Davis Edition” is mounted inside the lid, accompanied by a miniature red trumpet and the three watches.

Owners of one of the 500 Miles Davis tribute pieces will also receive a two-year membership in Breitling’s first Social Club, planned for Williamsburg, New York, in late 2027. The Lifetime Club Member Set comes with lifetime membership, extending the tribute beyond the watches themselves.

Two Originals, One Story

Miles Davis and the Navitimer represent two different forms of originality. One changed the direction of modern music through constant reinvention, while the other evolved from a specialised aviation instrument into a watch with a cultural identity far beyond the cockpit.

The Breitling Navitimer Miles Davis tribute brings those two stories together in a watch that remains visually connected to the 1960s while using contemporary mechanical construction. Limited to 500 pieces, it is not simply a commemorative edition bearing the name of a legendary musician, but an attempt to capture the independence and personal style that made Davis’ Navitimer significant in the first place.

On Miles Davis’ wrist, the Navitimer became part of a much larger cultural story. With this new edition, Breitling brings that story forward once again, celebrating the meeting of a legendary artist and one of the brand’s most distinctive watches.

Technical Specifications

For more information, please visit the official Breitling website.

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