
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Breitling Navitimer 92 (Ref. A30021) Blue Dial, 1990s
- Maker / attribution
- Breitling (maker)
- Date
- 1990s
- Historical period
- Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- BTLNA30021
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (BTLNA30021)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1990s Breitling Navitimer 92 (Ref. A30021) Blue Dial W/ Box & Booklets (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number BTLNA30021), this is a wristwatch by Breitling, made in Switzerland, dated 1990s. The Atlas places it in the Mechanical Renaissance period (1990 – 2010) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Craft & Tailored
First introduced in 1954, the Breitling Navitimer was the direct successor to the 1942 Breitling Chronomat and is truly something special when it comes to high-powered functionality in aviation watches. The Navitimer took the original slide rule bezel from the Chronomat and evolved it into a navigational computer for pilots. This groundbreaking bezel can be used to calculate flight times, distance traveled, airspeed, ascent and descent rates, and fuel-burning rates, and it even has a metric conversion tool. The first Navitimers housed a Valjoux 72 movement and were only available through the AOPA (Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association). However, this changed in 1956 when Breitling transitioned to a Venus cal. 178 chronograph movement and opened the ref. 806 to the general public for purchase. This ref. A30021 is the progeny of those models. Hailing from the '90s, it's in remarkable condition and striking to look at with its metallic blue dial, off-white telemetre bezel, and subtle red accents. It also comes with its original bracelet, box, and booklets, making it literally the whole package. SPECS Stock # BTLNA30021 Brand Breitling Style Navitimer 92 Model A30021 Serial 10X Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Blue W/ Tropical Sub-Dials Millimeters 38 Bracelet Breitling Stainless Steel Bracelet CASE & BRACELET The strong stainless steel case shows minimal signs of previous polishing and light signs of use. The coin edge bezel retains deep grooves and milling on the outside, and the inner telemetre portion of the bezel features some aging and fading, which is common to see in this era. The case retains its original pump pushers and Breitling signed crown. The case back retains all of its original factory markings in crisp condition. The watch comes supplied on its original Breitling stainless steel bracelet which retains 9 links that show no stretch and will fit up to a 6 1/2-inch wrist. The watch also comes with two additional links as well. DIAL & HANDS The beautiful metallic blue dial is in excellent condition overall, with only minor age spots from age which is expected. The three sub-dials remain very clean with some tropical patina bringing a copper tone to them, which plays nicely with the blued hands. The tritium hour numerals have aged to a charming cream coloration and exhibit no degradation under UV light inspection. The original lume-filled hands match the dial nicely, and are in incredible condition, showing no degradation. ACCESSORIES The watch comes with its original inner and outer boxes, and original instruction booklets. The box does show flaking and material transfer to the other accessories which is very standard for boxes of this era. The watch is keeping time and functioning perfectly, previous service history is unknown.
Historical context
Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
Mechanical watches return as cultural objects; independent watchmaking flourishes.
Mechanical watches returned as cultural and luxury objects. Complications, tourbillons and new materials proliferated; independent watchmakers such as George Daniels, F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour revived artisanal watchmaking; collecting vintage watches became a major field.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Quartz Revolution
Atlas type guide
Wristwatches
Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.
After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.
What to look for
- The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
- The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
- Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
- Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
- Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
- Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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