During Geneva Watch Days 2026, Breitling introduced the Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 Miles Davis, marking the centenary of the musician’s birth in 1926. This is the first time the brand has honored the jazz trumpeter, who famously wore a Reference 806 Mk5 from the 1960s until his death in 1991, at age 65.
Davis’ raw, goosebump-inducing trumpet sound gave the jazz world some of its most vivid expressions of joy and grief. This was most evident in Kind of Blue, his 1959 album that redefined jazz and remains a musical milestone to this day.
Breitling Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 Miles Davis: Vintage Looks, Modern Engineering
Breitling’s tribute to Davis’ legacy takes the form of a watch, the latest in a line of vintage-inspired Navitimers that evoke a nice, nostalgic feeling. The Navitimer design is popular, seems to be ageless, and continues to be well-loved.
Breitling has wisely avoided making any direct reference to Miles Davis on the watch itself – no extra logo, no engraved head, and no special colors. Only the box set packaging makes the direct link, as you can see below.
The limited-edition watch looks very much like the original watch model from the outside, including its diameter of 41 mm. But make no mistake: this is not a one-to-one re-creation. There are real differences between this watch and the original Reference 806 Mk5, including:
- The “one of 500” and “Miles Davis Centennial” engravings on the case back alluding to the number of pieces in this limited edition and its raison d’être
- A very lovely cream-colored Super-LumiNova on the dial instead of the original radium
- C.O.S.C.-certified Breitling in-house Caliber B09 instead of the Venus 178, now visible through the sapphire crystal case back (something Miles Davis would not have had on his watch)
- A hand-wound movement that keeps the case to just 13 mm high, paying tribute to a time before automatic chronographs
- No date window, preserving the clean read of the dial’s busy layout, chronograph counters plus the pilot’s slide rule
“Our goal wasn’t to recreate a historic watch, but to capture the essence of the Navitimer that Miles Davis made his own while delivering the performance and craftsmanship expected of a modern Breitling,” said Breitling CEO Jean-Marc Pontroué.
What really revives this vintage-style Navitimer is the addition of the Twin Jet logo, a signature element developed in the early 1960s to distinguish “civilian” Navitimer models from those sold to the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association). Breitling brought it back only once in the modern era, on the 2002 Navitimer 50th Anniversary Ref. A41322, making its reappearance here a small but meaningful callback for collectors.
The Air Racer Bracelet
This Navitimer comes on a hand-colored gradient brown calfskin strap with folding clasp. But for those who prefer a bracelet, Breitling has a surprise in store: it is also available with a modern interpretation of Breitling’s Air Racer bracelet, which is a super-distinctive stainless-steel cuff with large holes. Hinged links near the clasp provide modern comfort and better articulation, while the “vented” construction allows airflow and adds a special aesthetic, perhaps even one inspired by the automotive world.
The Air Racer bracelet disappeared from Breitling’s catalog in 2019, so this comeback is both unexpected and delightful.
The Limited-Edition Navitimer B09 Miles Davis Trio Set
In addition to the 500 individual stainless-steel watches, there will also be 50 box sets of three watches offering different executions of this watch: stainless steel, 18-karat yellow gold, and platinum. The latter has a blue dial with white counters while the first two mirror their vintage counterparts with the well-known black dial.
This trio of watches comes in a display case that evokes a traditional trumpet case. Blue lining inside definitely nods to the 1959 Kind of Blue album, one of the most revered jazz records in history. A blue record is mounted inside the lid, while a miniature red trumpet rests inside.
All three models in the set come on calfskin straps with folding clasps.
Breitling Social Club
The Breitling Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 Miles Davis is also linked with the forthcoming Breitling Social Club, which is currently set to be launched in late 2027 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The goal of the social club is to be a dedicated community space for collectors that includes exclusive events, experiences, and hospitality. Owners of the watch will receive a two-year membership, while owners of the box set will receive a lifetime membership.
It’s a fitting extension of the tribute. Davis built his career in rooms–small clubs, all-night sessions–where musicians gathered to push each other further. Nearly 70 years after Kind of Blue, Breitling is betting that collectors want the same kind of room.
