Breitling

As with many premium watch brands with a global presence today, it all began in a small watchmaking workshop. 24-year-old Léon Breitling, the son of German parents, founded his company in 1884 in Saint-Imier in the Bernese Jura – around the same time as Otto Lilienthal's development of the "Normalsegelapparat" (Normal Glider), the first aircraft to go into series production and to have (at least) nine customers. Breitling's plans were ambitious from the start: He wanted to develop exclusive precision instruments for specialized sectors in industry, research, sports, the military, and science. As early as 1892, Breitling moved to larger premises in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the watchmaking capital of Switzerland. His era was characterized by a growing passion for rapid speed and sporting competition. Stopwatches, however, were still controlled by the winding crown. But Léon Breitling would revolutionize short-term measurement. The specialization in chronographs resulted in the first "chronograph bracelet" with a chronograph hand and 30-minute counter in 1915, the first independent chronograph pusher in 1923, and a second one in 1934, which, with its reset option to zero, finally catapulted timekeeping into the modern era. Breitling now has over 40 different chronograph models in its portfolio, and to this day, its successful model sets the standard for every modern chronograph.

A Breitling of the latest generation: 2,000 meters of depth are no match for it; even in the deepest darkness of the oceans, its dynamic dial with its tilted numeral appliqués and balanced color play against a black background reliably displays the time. A safety valve absorbs pressure differences inside and outside the 44 mm gold and steel case. With a power reserve of 40 hours, a screw-lock crown, domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, and a unidirectional rotating bezel with a ratchet, the Breitling Superocean series is a star both underwater and on land. This "tailor-made Breitling" caters to individual wishes.

Even before Breitling became a producer and supplier to the Royal Air Force in 1936, his passion for onboard clocks and military aircraft instruments was ignited. But now the time was ripe: the Breitling Chronomat from 1942 became the official timepiece of the US Army Air Force. Today, over 30 civil aviation companies around the world place their trust in it. And by the time the Breitling Navitimer was introduced in 1952, the company's reputation as a specialist in pilot's watches was firmly established. And beyond that: on May 24, 1962, the Breitling Cosmonaute orbited the Earth with astronaut Scott Carpenter in the Aurora space capsule. In 1969, in a top-secret collaboration with Hamilton-Büren and Heuer-Leonidas, the first self-winding chronograph was created. A triumph. A groundbreaking creation consisting of a chronograph and an automatic movement called the "Chronomatic" was enthusiastically received at its simultaneous presentation in New York, Hong Kong, Beirut, and Geneva. Calibre 11, 12, 14, and 15 movements also ticked away in the Breitling Co-Pilot Automatic, Chronomat Automatic, and Navitimer Automatic models. The whirlwind of the quartz crisis, which swept through the entire watch industry, also shook the foundations of the Breitling manufacture. In 1984 – now under the company name Breitling Montres and with the new head of the company, Ernest Schneider – the Chronomat played a significant role in the revival of the chronograph. In 1995, the Breitling Emergency, a multifunctional chronograph with an emergency transmitter, marked a historic moment in the development of the pilot's watch. Its signals could be located on the 121.5 MHz frequency used in air traffic. With the development of the Montbrillant, Breitling honors the Wright brothers' historic flight on December 17, 1903, which is considered the initial spark of aviation.

The winged initial B of the Breitling logo, like the unmistakable Breitling watch design, visualizes the company's self-image as a preferred supplier to military and civil aviation. This claim takes shape in the Breitling Jet Team, Europe's largest civil aerobatic team. The Breitling World Cup, established jointly with the International Air Federation, is also a tribute to aviation. At the Breitling Academy, candidates who meet the high entry requirements complete a basic pilot course. Breitling continues to focus on spectacular events. With the "Breitling Orbiter," Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard circumnavigated the globe in a hot-air balloon. From takeoff on March 1, 1999, in Switzerland to landing on March 21, 1999, in Egypt, the flight was nonstop! The watchmaking titan likes to flex his muscles: Breitling also sponsors the world's last Super Constellation still approved for passenger flight. And the "Breitling Fighters" flight squadron he founded recreates authentic combat situations at international air shows with legendary military aircraft such as the Mustang, Spitfire, Kittyhawk, Corsair, Yakoview, and Messerschmitt. One could hardly demonstrate one's passion for aviation more boldly. Breitling is synonymous with maximum technical mastery and outstanding design, and not only for aviators and divers. Breitling connects extreme and elite athletes, screen stars, racing drivers, astronauts, and car manufacturers with watch aficionados who hold the greatest respect for exceptional quality in luxury watches. Incidentally, pilots are said to represent a rather marginal buyer group, accounting for 8% of Breitling sales. However, the image of daring and pioneering remains with Breitling and is passed on to its wearers.

For its 2002 Continental GT, the exclusive car manufacturer Bentley enlisted the support of a watch manufacturer for the first time – but not just any watch manufacturer. Naturally, it was Breitling that put its stamp on the technical onboard instrumentation of what was then the most powerful Bentley model. The "Breitling for Bentley" chronographs made of gold, steel, or titanium that emerged from this collaboration exude perfection, nobility, beauty, and attention to detail. A refined lifestyle under the sign of the winged B!