In a climate of ongoing vintage rerelease fever, it would be irresistible to for Breitling to ignore the many cool historical references in its catalog — like the Co-Pilot Ref. 765 AVI from 1953. The latest reference to be resurrected, the new model is known as the AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition. And though it looks as awesome as the original and should wear comfortably at 41mm, the new model offers updated materials, construction, and technology.
Dating to around the same time as the iconic Navitimer, the 1953 Breitling Co-Pilot Ref. 765 AVI was a serious mid-century pilot’s watch and is highly sought-after by collectors. For that extra touch of retro charm and authenticity, the modern incarnation uses the less modern choice of Hesalite for the crystal as well as an aged-looking luminant for the hands and indices. The water-resistance has been improved, however, to 30m — the typical rating for current dress watches.
A very modern touch is the Breitling in-house B-09 movement that powers the watch. A 12-hour chronograph with a power reserve of 70 hours, the B-09 is handwound, just like the movement of the original 765. Available in three different versions, the new Breitling AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition will have a price of $8,600 in steel (limited to 1,953 examples), jumping to $22,850 in red gold (253 examples), and $39,900 in platinum (153 examples).
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