The RB0138211B1R1 reference houses this Breitling Navitimer B01 red gold replica: a black dial in a red gold case at 43mm (the genuine case is 18k red gold), placing it among the most materially ambitious entries in the entire Navitimer catalog. The black dial against red gold creates a contrast that standard steel Navitimers never achieve, and the signature slide rule bezel rendered in the same gold adds a visual density that changes the character of the watch entirely. Collectors familiar with the steel versions will find a fundamentally different personality here.

Gold-tone hands sit over silver counters on this dial, so a hand that stops a hair off zero is harder to spot than on a steel version; our notes on checking the chronograph hands at zero show where to look.

Specifications

• Model: Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 (2022 generation)
• Reference: RB0138211B1R1
• Case size: 43 mm
• Case: red gold (genuine: 18k red gold)
• Dial: black with contrasting sub-dials
• Bezel: red gold circular slide rule
• Crystal: domed sapphire with anti-reflective treatment
• Bracelet: red gold seven-row link bracelet (genuine: 18k red gold)
• Movement: clone Cal. B01, automatic chronograph (column wheel, vertical clutch), 28,800 vph
• Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph, date
• Power reserve: 55 hours (genuine Cal. B01: 70 hours)
• Water resistance: 30 m (same as genuine)

Matching Bracelet and the Full 43 mm Size

The matching red gold bracelet continues the warm tone of the case rather than competing with it. At 43mm, this is the full-sized Navitimer, not the compact 35mm variant or the larger 46mm Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46.

Red Gold Navitimer B01 Chronograph: Movement and Material

Gold Navitimers occupy a narrow segment. Steel is the usual choice for a Navitimer, which makes the RB0138 a quieter reference that surfaces less frequently in collections. The genuine B01 offers a 70-hour power reserve; the clone Cal. B01 inside this watch runs for about 55 hours and keeps the column-wheel chronograph, matching the mechanical spec of the steel versions in the range. Set this beside the R17395 rose gold 35mm and the size and weight difference becomes immediately obvious. Browse the full Navitimer collection to see how this red gold version fits against the steel alternatives.

How the Warm Finish Changes With the Light

Navitimers finished in red gold from case to bracelet carry a visual warmth that photographs rarely capture accurately. On the wrist, the red gold case reflects ambient colors more than steel, shifting between copper and bronze depending on lighting conditions. Breitling also makes red gold versions of the time-only Navitimer Automatic 41 and Automatic 35, but here the treatment wraps a B01 chronograph from case to bracelet, which signals where the brand sees this reference in its hierarchy. On this clone the warmth comes from a red gold finish rather than solid 18k gold, so what you are buying is the colour and the look, not the bullion.