Just a short journey - a bit pic heavy - from 1954 to 2011.
Love the 01, the A23322, the first Old Navitimer, the Lemania Navi & Cossie - but the 806 is the original that all those later watches are based on, it will probably be the lead Breitling design for decades to come.
Best Breitling ?
A small family shot to start with:
1955
Navitimer 806 V1b, Valjoux V72 (V1a would be the even rarer 1954s without reference numbers. 1952 Navitimers are a myth).
1956
Navitimer 806 V1c, Venus V178
1956
Navitimer 806 V1c, Venus V178
1958
Navitimer 806 V1c, Venus V178 (fully restored, dial relumed, sliderule replaced)
1958 or 1959
Navitimer 806 V1c, Venus V178; serial number would indicate 1953, but all characteristics prove it to be a late 1950s, one of the misnumbered cases that most probably are the reason for that 1952/53 launch myth.
1964
Navitimer 806 V2, Venus V178, a twin-plane or two
1965
Navitimer 806 V2, Venus V178, AOPA & "boxed 10"
1966
Navitimer 806 V2, Venus V178, AOPA
1967
Navitimer 806 V2, Venus V178, twin plane "boxed 10"
1971
Navitimer 7806, Valjoux 7740
1973
Navitimer 7806-S, modified Valjoux V7740
1986-94
Navitimer reborn; "Lemania Cossie" 81600, a Navitimer was launched in the same case, both Lemania 1873
1995
Old Navitimer 1, Valjoux 7750
2001
Navitimer Mècanique Japan LE (400 in black); Lemania 1873. Rare bird, but really quite nice.
2004-2010
Navitimer A23322, modified Valjoux 7750
2011
Navitimer 01
Navitimer 2014 ?
Who knows, but it will most probably be based on the 806 .......
?