Sinn 903 vs Breitling Navitimer vs O&W Aviation
The Breitling firm invented the Navitimer in the early 1950’s for the AOPA (Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associatoion) and release it to the public a little later. First with all black dial and in the 1960’s with panda dial. Unfortunatly in 1979 Breitling was forced to close production and liquidated inventory and rights. Mr. Helmut Sinn, founder of Sinn Watches (1961) bought the rights to use the dial layout of Breitling’s 806 and 809 Navitimer watches, as well as acquiring the tools to produce them and the Lemania 1883 hand wound movements used within these watches. The Company of Ollech & Wash was able to acquire a lot of unfinished products that only needed a new name printed on the dial)! The watches were sold under the Aviation label” and are actually 1979’s Navitimers. This was never a problem since it was limited stock under a different name.
But since Mr. Sinn liked to upgrade his watches and had long term plans. The new Company of Breitling Montres SA (since 1986) wanted to discuss the rights to the 903/Navitimer Model. They descissin was made that both companies could build the timepiece but only Breitling could use the Navitimer model name. This didn’t stop Sinn developing and producing a “better Breitling” ie a navigation chrono to Sinn standards. This explains the resemblance of Sinn’s timepiece with the Navitimer. Thus the 903 Classic is not an illegal copy of Breitling and in fact Sinn still owns the rights to produce these watches today. Until 2000 they used the Lemania 1873 handwind caliber, after that different caliber were used among which the Valjoux 7740 and 7750.sometimeago
