Television presenter Richard Hammond spotted wearing a Breitling

Richard Hammond, best known as one-third of the original Top Gear presenting trio and co-host of Amazon Prime's The Grand Tour, was spotted wearing a Breitling Navitimer 01 while driving — arguably the most on-brand watch sighting in recent celebrity horology memory. The image captures Hammond at the wheel, the distinctive chronograph clearly visible on his left wrist, its blue dial catching the light against his tweed jacket sleeve.

The Breitling Navitimer 01 reference AB012717/C889 — identifiable here by its rich blue dial, contrasting white registers, and the characteristic circular slide-rule bezel — houses Breitling's in-house Calibre 01, a COSC-certified chronometer movement beating at 28,800 vph with a 70-hour power reserve. The 43mm stainless steel case maintains the Navitimer's traditional proportions while the blue leather strap with white contrast stitching (visible in the reference image) adds a refined sportiness. The bidirectional rotating bezel with its logarithmic slide rule — originally designed for pilot flight calculations — remains fully functional, a rare instance of genuine tool-watch DNA surviving into contemporary luxury.

The Navitimer lineage dates to 1952, making it one of the oldest continuously produced chronograph references in the industry. Originally developed in collaboration with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), it carried their winged logo on the dial — a detail that persists to this day. The 01-series, launched in 2009, marked a watershed moment: Breitling finally brought the Navitimer's movement in-house after decades of ETA/Valjoux reliance, significantly elevating the watch's collector credibility.

Hammond's choice is no coincidence. An avowed car and mechanical obsessive, he has long favoured watches with genuine engineering pedigree over pure status symbols. The Navitimer's aviation-tool heritage aligns naturally with his persona — a man who understands that the best instruments are both beautiful and purposeful. It has appeared on his wrist across multiple Grand Tour episodes and press appearances.

On the secondary market, the Navitimer 01 blue dial in steel trades at a modest premium or at parity with retail, reflecting steady rather than speculative demand. It remains a serious collector's choice — historically significant, technically accomplished, and resistant to hype cycles — precisely the qualities that define a watch worth wearing every day.