2018 Navitimer 01 43mm or 41mm which one?

[Frits1980]

Hello all,

I was never in to modern Breitling, bit to big and loud for my taste but the navitimer is a classic and it realy starting to grow on me the last months so i decided the navitimer 01 will be my next watch purchase.


I'm looking at the new 2018 model 43mm (AB0121211B1X1 T) but i wonder how big it wears? I have '7inch wrists and can wear explorer 2 (42mm), speedmaster (42mm) black bay (41mm) without issues. My biggest watch is the Bathyscape (43mm) and although i like it and it looks ok i would liked it a lot more if it was a bit smaller.

There is also a new 41mm navitimer (A13324121B1X1) which looks to be the perfect size for me but it doesnt have the in house b01 movement.


No AD close by so i cannot try the 2 models. I realy prefer one with the b01 movement ofcourse but the navitimer is a busy watch so i wonder if 43mm wouldnt be to much?

[arcadelt]

Honestly, either will be fine. I have 6.5 inch wrists and have worn mostly up to 41.x mm Navis in the past, but two extra mm will make little difference. What you should determine then is what you'd like peripheral to the diameter, such as sub-dial layout, colour and strap/bracelet options.

[123Blueface]

Have a 6.5” wrist and mine rocks.
If I had a 7”,I would push to a 46”.
I wear a 44 Chrono GMT as my daily.

[fdm79]

Originally Posted by Frits1980

Hello all,

I was never in to modern Breitling, bit to big and loud for my taste but the navitimer is a classic and it realy starting to grow on me the last months so i decided the navitimer 01 will be my next watch purchase.


I'm looking at the new 2018 model 43mm (AB0121211B1X1 T) but i wonder how big it wears? I have '7inch wrists and can wear explorer 2 (42mm), speedmaster (42mm) black bay (41mm) without issues. My biggest watch is the Bathyscape (43mm) and although i like it and it looks ok i would liked it a lot more if it was a bit smaller.

There is also a new 41mm navitimer (A13324121B1X1) which looks to be the perfect size for me but it doesnt have the in house b01 movement.


No AD close by so i cannot try the 2 models. I realy prefer one with the b01 movement ofcourse but the navitimer is a busy watch so i wonder if 43mm wouldnt be to much?

Regarding the size, you are pretty much describing the issues I had before getting mine !

So I recently bought my first Breitling. A Navitimer 01 43mm and got really impressed how perfect it fits my 6.8 wrist. Trust me, it's nowhere big as people think they might look on the wrist ! Lately, my main concern when wearing a watch is not so much the case diameter but actually, the thickness ! I have for example, a Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph Heritage which is 41mm wide but 17mm thick (Navitimer 01 43mm is 14mm thick) and this Tag feels way more massive and heavier than the Navitimer 43mm.

I also had a Bell & Ross WWI-92 Military that was 45mm but since it wasn't a Chronograph, it was quite thin.

I even tried the Navitimer 46mm but somehow, having the exact same movement as a 43mm, the case is thicker on the 46mm so I bought the 43mm (and particularly because it was a Pan-American Limited Edition not available in 46mm).

I'm day by day, becoming more and more fan of the Navitimer 01.
Something I would have never imagined a little while ago being so much a Rolex fan !


Some pictures for you to have a bit of reference !







And this is my Tag Heuer Carrera 41mm




Bell & Ross WWI-92 45mm

[Frits1980]

Originally Posted by fdm79

Regarding the size, you are pretty much describing the issues I had before getting mine !

So I recently bought my first Breitling. A Navitimer 01 43mm and got really impressed how perfect it fits my 6.8 wrist. Trust me, it's nowhere big as people think they might look on the wrist ! Lately, my main concern when wearing a watch is not so much the case diameter but actually, the thickness ! I have for example, a Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph Heritage which is 41mm wide but 17mm thick (Navitimer 01 43mm is 14mm thick) and this Tag feels way more massive and heavier than the Navitimer 43mm.

I also had a Bell & Ross WWI-92 Military that was 45mm but since it wasn't a Chronograph, it was quite thin.

I even tried the Navitimer 46mm but somehow, having the exact same movement as a 43mm, the case is thicker on the 46mm so I bought the 43mm (and particularly because it was a Pan-American Limited Edition not available in 46mm).

I'm day by day, becoming more and more fan of the Navitimer 01.
Something I would have never imagined a little while ago being so much a Rolex fan !


Some pictures for you to have a bit of reference !







And this is my Tag Heuer Carrera 41mm




Bell & Ross WWI-92 45mm

Thanks for the pictures, it helped. I had the same dilemma with the royal oak 15400/15450. Decided to go small and now it bugs me so now i probably have to flip it for a 15400. So I will go for the 43mm on leather.

[Chester01]

I had the same issue as my wrist is perhaps 6.5 inches. I ended up with the AOPA anniversary model at a very good price which settled the issue for me. However one can tell the difference between my model which is the older model and I think 41.5mm versus the new at 43, but it is likely not significant for most people. Try them all on and go from there.

While I had some thinking to do as the new one has the in-house movement, I got past that as the Navi did not have an in-house movement for 50 years, and I thought the size more in line with the classic versions. Good luck. You can’t go wrong with any Navi in my opinion!

[uniqueMR]

My wrist is 6.75 inches and I wear 41mm Navitimer 01.
Its suit much better.

[Argo98]

Originally Posted by uniqueMR

My wrist is 6.75 inches and I wear 41mm Navitimer 01.
Its suit much better.

This one is 43mm..Nice watch

[uniqueMR]

Originally Posted by Argo98

This one is 43mm..Nice watch

My bad, yes 43mm. Thanks :)