When you hear the name Breitling, a Swiss luxury watch brand, many people will associate it with aviation watches. The numerous watches entrusted to the lives of men racing through the skies have a beauty of design born from meticulous calculations. Let's trace the history of the collection and the lineage of the brand.
Breitling's deep connection with the aviation industry
For pilots, even a split-second error in judgment can put their lives at risk, which is why aviation watches have the mission of instantly telling the correct time.
To accomplish this mission, it is necessary for the vehicle to have high visibility and excellent operability.
Among the top watch brands, Breitling has particularly strong ties with the aviation industry. Let's take a closer look at the history and appeal of its collections.
A pioneer of the chronograph
Breitling is a brand that has established itself as a pioneer of chronographs, and it is no exaggeration to say that the company's history is the history of chronographs.
When Breitling was founded in 1884, it was one of the first companies to focus on chronographs and to begin research and development into them.
As the 1900s approached and war approached, the demand for chronographs grew. It was only natural that Breitling, which had been steadily researching and developing its products, would gain more attention and recognition.
In 15, they released the world's first chronograph with a dedicated push button, and in 34 they successfully commercialized the reset button.
Through these developments, the company created the prototype of the modern chronograph, and in 36 it finally became a supplier to the Royal Air Force, establishing close ties with the aviation industry.
The Origins of Breitling
Breitling, known for its extremely high functionality and exquisite design, has always been committed to precision watchmaking. Let's take a closer look at its history.
Leon Breitling is founded
The company was founded in 1884 by Leon Breitling, a skilled watchmaker, and from the beginning the precision of the watches it produced was highly acclaimed.
At the time, the demand for chronographs was beginning to grow in the military and sports industries, and Leon was quick to recognize this trend.
Leon set his sights on the chronograph and resolved to devote his technical expertise to its development, eventually completing a model equipped with a chronograph function in 89 and successfully obtaining a patent for it.
In 93, they again obtained a patent for a model with an approximately 8-day power reserve, and in 96 they introduced a chronograph with an accuracy of 2/5 of a second, continuing their vigorous development efforts.
His son Gaston Breitling took over
When the founder, Leon, passed away in 1914, his son, Gaston Breitling, took over the company.
He inherited Leon's pioneering spirit, innovative approach, and passion for the chronograph.
In 23, he obtained a patent for a new timepiece design: a pocket watch equipped with a two-pusher chronograph with two buttons, which enabled continuous measurement using a stopwatch.
With the baton passed from Leon to Gaston, Breitling continued to create a sensation in the watch world.
Passing on passion
Gaston Breitling, the second generation owner, left behind many great achievements in the watch industry, but he suddenly passed away in 1927. His son, Willy Breitling, was only 14 years old at the time, so the company's management was temporarily handed over to outside staff.
Willy became president in 32. At the time, most chronographs had only one pusher, which meant they could not measure cumulative elapsed time.
Willy's mission was to overcome the weakness of the reset mechanism, and he obtained a patent for the two-pusher system developed by his father, Gaston. From then on, he continued to create new functions with innovative ideas and groundbreaking technology.
The passion that founder Leon poured into chronographs has been passed down through generations.
