Breitling has released an extremely limited re-edition of a 1964 execution of the iconic AVI Co-Pilot watch.
First released in 1953, the original Ref. 765 AVI, dubbed the Co-Pilot, was a workhorse timepiece designed to serve pilots in the often unforgiving conditions of a single-seat cockpit. Its size, legibility, and ease of use made it a trusted flight instrument.
By the 1960s, the AVI’s simplified style and oversized proportions made it a watch to wear well beyond aviation circles. One particular 765 AVI from 1964, with a black bezel and reverse-panda dial, was a favorite of celebrities and sports stars, including the French skier Jean-Claude Killy, who famously wore it when he won gold in all three alpine skiing events at the 1968 Winter Games. Today, that watch is the subject of an extremely limited re-edition.
Each of the 164 pieces faithfully reproduces this execution’s design. It includes a hesalite crystal, as well as the baton indexes and lumed pencil hands used on the original.
The Breitling Ref 765 AVI 1964 Re-edition also features modern improvements, like the durable amorphous diamond-like carbon (ADLC) coating that gives the bezel its black finish. The watch houses the Caliber B09, a manual-winding Breitling manufacture movement with a power reserve of 70 hours.
The re-edition’s limitation references the watch’s original 1964 release with the caseback engraving “One of 164”.
Technical details
Model: Breitling Ref 765 AVI 1964 Re-edition
Reference: AB09451A1B1X1
Movement
Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09
Diameter: 30 millimeters
Depth: 6.73 millimeters
Winder: mechanical hand-wound
Power reserve: approx. 70 hours
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Chronograph: column-wheel, vertical clutch, 1/4th second, 15-minute and 12-hour counter
Display: hour, minute, second
Certification: COSC-certified
Case
Material: stainless steel
Diameter: 41 millimeters
Thickness: 14.05 millimeters
Height (upper lug tip 48.71 millimeters to lower lug tip):
Water resistance: up to 3 bar (30 meters)
Glass: hesalite, convex
Caseback: snapped, steel
Crown: non-screw-locked, one gasket
Bezel: amorphous diamond-like carbon (ADLC) coated, bidirectional ratcheted
Dial
Black with white contrasting chronograph counters
Super-LumiNova® luminescent numerals, hour, and minute hands
Strap
Black vintage-inspired leather strap with pin buckle
