Breitling watches
by David Barth
written March 3, 2003
Breitling
The Breitling family tradition of achievement in quality and accuracy in timekeeping has continued for nearly a full century. Early on, Leon Breitling and his son and
successor, Gaston Breitling, developed and built the very first wrist chronograph. Willy Breitling, the founder's grandson, later modified and improved the modern
chronograph.
Leon Breitling first opened a workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1884, making pocket watches and chronographs. His son Gaston initiated the production of
wrist-watches in 1914 for the military in the World War I.
The early Breitling chronographs featured both center chronograph seconds as well as a 30 minute totalizer. Breitling was awarded a patent in 1923 for inventing
the independent pushpiece, and another in 1926 for the 1/10 second totalizer.
In 1934 Willy Breitling launched the modern chronograph with his invention of the second, return-to-zero pushpiece. The chronograph as we know it was complete.
To this day, this style of chronograph remains one of Breitling's best selling timepieces.
Breitling persists in maintaining its mission to improve and redefine itself. Breitling watches are available in steel, precious metals, or titanium, with a myriad of dial
treatments, straps and bracelets: Not to mention the many different and highly specialized features from alarms to emergency transmitters. Breitling remains poised
for the 21st century and beyond as a force in precision timekeeping.
Fashionable, rugged and highly precise: these are just a few of the accolades one might use in describing a Breitling wristwatch. In fact, Breitling is so highly
regarded that the "Navitimer" has become the standard watch for pilots around the world. One hundred and sixteen years after its founding, Breitling is one of the
best-known luxury watch brands in the world.
The Breitling saga begins in 1884, when Leon Breitling - just 24 years of age - founded the company in St. Imier, Switzerland. Breitling's goal was simple: to
manufacture high-quality technical watches. As his business expanded, the young watchmaker moved the factory to the Swiss village of Grenchen and began
specializing in chronographs. Today, one can find chronograph pocket watches signed Breitling, which are often of very high quality.
Following World War I, Breitling began manufacturing chronographs and chronometers for airplanes. In fact, they were a pioneer in the field of aviation timekeeping. In
1942, Breitling introduced its famous "Chronomat" model - the first watch fitted with a circular slide rule bezel. With Breitling fast becoming the leading choice of pilots
worldwide, it was no surprise when the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association named the newly introduced three-register version as its official watch. The watch
gained further fame when launched on the retail market as the "Navitimer". The company's fame grew even greater when astronaut Scott Carpenter wore his Breitling
on the moon; In honor of this event the model was named the "Cosmonaute".
Like many Swiss watch companies, Breitling was hit hard by the quartz revolution, and in 1979, former pilot Ernest Schneider was hired as its new CEO. Schneider
cleverly conducted a public relations campaign designed to influence people's attitudes about the bulky, oversized watch. The campaign was a huge success,
coming as it did on the heels of a renewed interest in wearing mechanical wristwatches. By the late 1980's, the Breitling wristwatch, with its large case and distinctive
bezel, was a recognizable status symbol all over the world and widely copied by other companies, making the "Breitling look" even more fashionable.
Despite the fact that celebrities are often photographed wearing a Breitling, these watches are also such precise timekeepers that they remain the top choice of
commercial pilots. A few of the house's famous offerings include: the "Emergency" model (which is capable of sending out a radio signal if one is lost); the
Montbrillant Eclipse; the "Chronomat"; and the Colt Superocean, which is both waterproof (up to 100 ATM) and COSC-rated.
Breitling has been associated with flying since 1936 when Willy Breitling, Leon's grandson, manufactured an aircraft chronometer. The firm has had a long association
with Boeing, Douglas, and Lockheed aircraft companies. Ernest Schneider, a pilot, acquired the company in 1979.
Breitling Highlights:
1952 - Navimeter
The Navimeter is a superchronograph, designed especially for pilots.
1970 - GMT
The GMT is a chronograph with two hour hands, one showing 12 hours and the other showing 24 hours.
1971 - Unitime.
The Unitime simultaneously shows the time in all countries of the world.