
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Breitling Navitimer Jupiter, Iraqi Air Force Pilot Watch, ref. 3300, circa 1980s
- Maker / attribution
- Breitling (maker)
- Date
- c. 1980s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- vws4241
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws4241)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Breitling Navitimer Jupiter - Iraqi Air Force Pilot Watch - Model Reference 3300 - c.1980s (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws4241), this is a wristwatch by Breitling, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1980s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) 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 — Vintage Watch Specialist
A rare Iraqi military-issued Navitimer blending analogue aviation heritage with 1980s quartz innovation, c.1980s First introduced in 1952, the Breitling Navitimer was designed specifically for pilots, combining a chronograph with a circular slide rule for in-flight calculations. Developed in collaboration with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), it quickly became an essential cockpit tool. Its distinctive, information-rich dial made it instantly recognisable. Over time, the Navitimer evolved but retained its core functionality, becoming one of the most iconic aviation watches ever produced. What's on Offer A rare and historically significant Breitling Navitimer Jupiter Pilot, this example stands apart as an Iraqi Air Force–issued model from the 1980s. Combining Breitling’s iconic aviation design with quartz-era innovation, it features the classic slide rule bezel alongside a digital display—delivering both analogue tradition and modern functionality. The black dial is richly detailed, with layered scales, luminous plots, and a warm-toned chapter ring that enhances both legibility and visual depth. The digital display adds a practical edge, reinforcing its role as a true pilot’s instrument. The stainless steel case and integrated bracelet give the watch a strong, purposeful presence on the wrist, while the Breitling calibre 3300 quartz movement ensures dependable accuracy. Crucially, the caseback engraving confirms its Iraqi Air Force provenance—an increasingly sought-after and historically intriguing military connection. Completing the package is the original Breitling Navitimer booklet, adding further collectability. A standout Navitimer with genuine military ties, this is a rare opportunity to own a distinctive piece of aviation history from an often-overlooked chapter of Breitling’s past.
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Military, pilot and travel watches
The wristwatch owes much of its adoption by men to warfare and aviation. Wristlets — small pocket watches soldered with lugs and worn on a strap — were used in colonial campaigns and became standard equipment in the First World War, with protective grilles over the crystal ('shrapnel guards'). Louis Cartier's Santos (1904), designed for the aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, is often cited as an early purpose-made pilot's watch.
In the Second World War governments specified watches in detail: the German B-Uhr observation watches, the American A-11, and the British 'W.W.W.' (the 'Dirty Dozen' set of 1945). After the war, jet travel brought GMT and world-time watches, which show two or more time zones at once — Louis Cottier's world-time mechanism and the Rolex GMT-Master (1955) are examples.
What to look for
- Military markings on the case back: broad arrow, issue numbers, 'W.W.W.', 'A.T.P.'
- High-legibility black dials with luminous Arabic numerals; oversized crowns for gloved hands.
- 24-hour hands and rotating 24-hour bezels or city rings on GMT/world-time watches.
- Wire lugs on early wristlets converted from pocket watches.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug wristlets: c. 1900–1925.
- Military specifications of the Second World War: 1939–1945.
- GMT and world-time wristwatches: mainly after 1950.
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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