Breitling Aviator 8 Automatic Watch - 42mm Stainless Steel & Black Dial

From brave first takeoffs to the birth of commercial air travel, Breitling’s history is inseparable from that of flight. In the 1930’s, Breitling’s Huit Aviation department made its name inventing precision cockpit clocks. Two decades later, it introduced yet another novel flight instrument, this time in wearable form: the Ref. 765 AVI. That pioneering pilot’s watch provided the technical backdrop for today’s Classic AVI, a collection inspired by the rugged spirit of famed early aircraft.

The Classic AVI Mosquito honours one of those legends. In an era when aluminium and steel shortages were common, the engineers behind the de Haviland Mosquito made use of a still plentiful material: wood. The “Wooden Wonder” caused shockwaves when it outperformed its metal contemporaries to become one of the fastest planes built between 1940 and 1950. Its superior manoeuvrability allowed it to multitask in roles as far ranging as light bomber, night-fighter, transport and photographic reconnaissance aircraft.

As a true pilot’s watch designed to withstand the rigors of a vintage cockpit, the Classic AVI Mosquito features large, highly legible Arabic numerals on the dial and bezel.

The knurled bezel on the 42mm case provides optimal grip, even in a pilot’s gloved hands. Top-stitched calfskin straps give a nod to the seams found on classic flight gear. Pilots and other travelers will appreciate its legibility, wearability, and understated style. The engine of the Classic AVI is the C0SC-certified Breitling Caliber 23 movement, which provides approximately 48-hours power reserve.