Tap the image to enlarge
Breitling Navtimer Big Eye 41mm Stainless Steel
Ref. 7806
The 7806 arrived in 1972 as the direct successor to the long-running reference 806, carrying the Navitimer name into a new era while solving two problems at once. The Venus 178 that had powered earlier Navitimers was no longer available, so Breitling turned to the Valjoux 7740 — a cam-operated manual-wind movement produced for only two years, sharing its chronograph architecture with the celebrated automatic Calibre 11 that defined the Chrono-Matic line. At the same time, Breitling added a date for the first time in the classical Navitimer lineage, presenting it on a red disc at 4:30 that reads as a deliberate accent against the black dial rather than an afterthought. The "Big Eye" designation refers to the enlarged subdial registers — silver against deep black — that give the dial its particular visual weight. Running seconds moved to a dedicated permanent register as part of the same redesign, and the internal slide-rule bezel carried over intact, still capable of the full range of airborne calculations the original was built around. On the wrist, 41mm reads larger than that figure alone suggests, because the fluted lugs extend the profile considerably across the wrist. The acrylic crystal is correct to the period and shows the age of the watch honestly; so does the absence of any water resistance rating, which was never part of what this watch was for.
- Reference
- 7806
- Brand
- Breitling
- Collection
- Navitimer
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 14mm
- Lug width
- 22mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Acrylic
- Bezel
- Bidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- Valjoux 7740
- Functions
- Chronograph, Date, Small seconds, Tachymeter
- Water resistance
- Not water resistant
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Vintage
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 48mm
- Power reserve
- 42 hours
- Origin
- Swiss made
Learn more about Breitling
Léon Breitling founded a workshop in Saint-Imier in 1884 specialising in chronographs and precision counters for industrial, scientific, and sporting use — deliberately narrow ground at a time when most makers built everything.
The family's technical contribution is the chronograph as we use it. Gaston Breitling introduced a wrist chronograph with a dedicated pusher separate from the crown in 1915, unpicking the start-stop-reset sequence from the winding mechanism. Willy Breitling added the second pusher in 1934, separating reset from stop and completing the two-pusher layout every chronograph has used since.
Aviation followed naturally. The Chronomat arrived in 1942 with a rotating slide rule bezel, and the Navitimer in 1952 refined the idea into a circular flight computer capable of fuel burn, climb rate, and unit conversion. It became the semi-official watch of pilots and remains the brand's signature.
Breitling was among the consortium — with Heuer, Hamilton, and Dubois Dépraz — racing Zenith and Seiko to the first automatic chronograph in 1969.
The company faltered badly in the quartz crisis and stopped trading in 1979. Ernest Schneider bought the name and rebuilt it around aviation and oversized cases. A change of ownership in 2017 brought Georges Kern and a deliberate softening toward slimmer, more archival designs.
- 1884
- Léon Breitling opens his chronograph workshop.
- 1915
- The first chronograph pusher independent of the crown.
- 1934
- The two-pusher chronograph layout is completed.
- 1952
- The Navitimer introduces the aviation slide rule.
- 1979
- The original company closes; Ernest Schneider revives the name.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,847), Stainless Steel Watches (3,197), Automatic Watches (1,736), Chronograph Watches (1,234), Leather Strap Watches (1,049) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
Best of 2 retailers
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 48mm lug-to-lug keeps the 41mm case wearable
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 14mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
- Acrylic crystal marks easily, though it polishes out
Breitling Navtimer Big Eye alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 7806 | Q9008480 | 103481 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,150 | £6,050 | £6,415 |
| Case size | 41mm | 41mm | 41mm |
| Water resistance | Not water resistant | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 42 hours | 40 hours | 42 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched | Closely matched |
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
No. This watch carries no water resistance rating — keep it dry, and take it off before washing your hands.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Yes, but it polishes out. Acrylic marks easily and a scratch can be buffed away at home, which is why vintage-style watches still use it.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 42 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
22mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 48mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb list it at £6,150, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
More Breitling watches like the Navtimer Big Eye
In stock, and close on style and price
