Breitling offers a vast number of watches with pilot bezels. But rotating bezels also play another role here: since the Chrono mat from 1941 and the Navitimer from 1952, which is still famous today, the bezel has been used to convert units.
With the most incredible blessing: The Navitimer from 1952 with the double swing arm logo of the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association). The rotating bezel enables complex arithmetic operations.
The ratio of kilometers to nautical miles is of particular interest to pilots: With the help of the slide rule bezel, the wearer can set the size on the outer number ring to a fixed mile marker on the left edge of the dial. Another fixed marking at noon now shows the same size in kilometers on the rotating bezel.
Other calculations are also possible with the help of the rule of three if you know the conversion formula. For example, if one currency is worth 1.7 times another, you can turn the 17 on the outer ring to the inner 10 and get all prices converted around the dial.
Another function is used on rotating bezels from Breitling and other brands in the directional display on a 360-degree scale. For example, the Breitling Exospace B55 Yachting has markings on the bezel for the four cardinal points and the degrees in between. This allows calculations on wind direction, sail angle, and start position.
However, watches with slide rules are not only available from Breitling. Hamilton has a significantly cheaper model with the Khaki Aviation Converter GMT Auto with such a bezel in its repertoire. The watch even combines a conversion tool with a second-time zone.
The Rotating Bezel As A Countdown Bezel
Last but not least, there are countdown bezels with a minute scale running backward. Such a countdown to a predetermined zero point is mainly used in military operations. Like the original version, which was designed for military use at the end of the 1950s, the new edition of the Air Command Chronograph from Blancpain has a toothed rotating countdown bezel.
The sea battalion GMT from Mühle-Glashütte was specially developed for the German naval elite unit. With the help of its bidirectional rotating bezel, all actions can be precisely timed because it has a countdown division. The remaining diving time can also be read off quickly. Finally, something every day is, of course, also conceivable as a civil purpose, such as cooking pasta – or waiting for the loved one who has announced their appearance in half an hour. Check here for Rolex price
