A Call to RWGers with Navitimers

[andyaudi42]

I'm looking to get a navitimer, either 3-6-9 or 6-9-12 configuration.

The problem is so many people have them, but i cant decide whos is the best (funtionally and cosmetically).

Please show them off if you've got 'em, make this an easier choice from me.

Thanks,

Andrew

[takashi]

Mine is a Navi TT. If you are looking for less flaw, stick to 6-9-12 layout. That way you don't have to worry about sunken datewheel and you can swap the datewheel with lello's.

Edited February 1, 2008 by takashi

[subzero1]

These avoid the sunken datewheel, which is a big deal to me. Plus I had K2222 strip the crappy rep AR and put on genuine double AR, the results are impressive:

[capice]

Good tip T, another thing learned here...

[PAMman]

I am certainly not a Breitling expert but AFAIK, functionally the best is the 6 9 12 configuration which comes only in the series speciale 'Fighters' version. Cosmetically the best variation of this watch is the earlier 21,000 'Old Asian' movement because it has a better alignment of the bezel / dial slide-rule scales. Additionally, this 'Older Asian' version can be swapped for a ETA movement without any problem as the hand sizes match, unlike the later 28,800 Asian movement. The gen Fighters Navi is brushed while the rep is polished but there are so many variations of Navitimer that I wouldn't be concerned that anyone outside of the rep world has ever seen a gen Fighters or would spot the difference.

The 3 6 9 configurations are based on a modified Asian 7750 which may be problematic in itself, although not as bad as a secs at 6 modification, but this modification does result in a sunken datewheel and slightly off-position date window. This means that you cannot easily swap to the Swiss 7753 movement, which the gen uses, unless you also get a gen dial to match. However the gen 3 6 9 looks best IMO.

I have a Navitimer and it is the Fighters 6 9 12 with a Swiss movement. It looks and feels like an older Navitimer.

[NaviChief]

Here is my old 21k Navi as described above (except with a ETA transplant ) Two other flaws with this one though are the subdials being too shiny and inverted, and Messerschmidt spelled wrong on the caseback (good luck spotting it). Love this watch.....double AR in the next run!

[andreww]

I'll soon be writing a guide to Navitimers and Ill explain all of this there. But for now, the "Fighters" or "Series Speciale" is the least accurate of all Navis. Contrary to popular belief its is not just the brushed case that differentiates it from the gen. The case shape is different, the bezel is different, and the crystal is completely wrong. The best Navitimer rep available is actually the Two Tone 6-9-12 version. It is reasonably close to the "Old Navitimer", and has now glaring flaws. Date window aside, I would rank the 3-6-9 version as a close second, and the Fighters edition a distant third.

[By-Tor]

Here's my (already traded) TT Navi. It was very nice rep.