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A Brief History of Breitling Watches
Léon Breitling did not let the hindrance of Switzerland’s recession get in the way of his vision for mastering time. Founder of Breitling, he opened his first workroom in 1884 when he was just 24 years old. He would develop and produce his timepieces at Place Nueve 1, Saint-Imier.
In the beginning, Leon was not concerned with building a brand, but rather with selling his work. Breitling's name was not added to the dials until about forty years after the company was founded. Willy Breitling, Léon’s great-grandson, took over the family business after Léon’s abrupt young death. He focused more on the rise of military aviation, using that as his inspiration for the modern aviation watch.
In 1915, the company invented the chronograph, which is a function Breitling is now well-known for. It had two pushers: one used to start or pause the watch, and the other to reset the watch. “Whereas the 1940s were characterized by military expansion, the 1950s represented a Golden Age of consumer expansion,” Breitling explains. Willy saw a desire for practical, yet personal timepieces.
From the skies to the seas, Breitling has developed timepieces to suit every type of adventurer. In 1962, Breitling was the first chronograph watch in space, worn by astronaut Malcolm Scott Carpenter. A 24-hour dial was created for Carpenter to distinguish between day and night while on his mission.
Willy Breitling’s health was declining during the Quartz Crisis in the late 1970s. He wanted to ensure the brand wouldn’t merge with another before retiring. Ernest Schneider, a technical and aviation enthusiast, took over in 1979 to maintain the brand’s independence. Schneider saw an opportunity to create timepieces designed for functionality, reliability, and durability.
Théodore, Schneider’s son, took over the company in 1994. He pioneered the Breitling Emergency, which could send out distress signals when things go awry.
According to Luxe Digital, “Emergency beacons inspired the Breitling Emergency. Launched in 1995, it featured an antenna that could broadcast on the 121.5 MHz distress frequency."
Today, Breitling has partnered with Outerknown. Together, they created a wristband that is manufactured with ECONYL, a yarn made from abandoned fishing nets. In 2020, the packaging was reinvented to be 100% recycled PET.
Learn more about Breitling’s Sustainability Mission.
Breitling’s Classic Aviator Pilot’s Watch
The Aviator model was inspired by a stopwatch that WWII bomber pilots wore strapped to their thighs. According to Breitling, “The collection celebrates the pioneering spirit of early pilots and four legendary planes. The Curtiss P40 Warhawk, the DE Havilland Mosquito, the Vought F4U Vorsair, and the North American P-51 Mustang.”
The large dial of these Breitling watches along with the luminosity help pilots read the time effectively. Its oversized winding crown allows for easy access even when pilots are wearing gloves. The dual time zone function allows them to see the time in their home location at the same moment as their travel destination.
Aviator Super 8
Green Dial, Reference #EB2040101L1X1
Black Dial, Reference #AB2040101B1X1
The Sporty, Military-Inspired Breitling Colt
Breitling Colt watches were introduced in the 1980s as a military timepiece. The model was created for men and women with both quartz and automatic movements to choose from. It's equipped with a large screw-locked crown with protective reinforcements. This timepiece was ideal for safety during any emergencies that may have cropped up in the field.
Readability was enhanced by oversized hands and hour markers, emphasized by a luminescent coating to help with nighttime visibility. These rugged Breitling watches were last updated in 2014 with 4 models. The current CEO, Georges Kern, discontinued the Colt in 2020 to clean up the brand. Now, collectors browse through the secondhand market hoping to get their hands on this sturdy and accessible timepiece.
Colt, Black Index Dial
Reference #A17388101B1A1
The Exquisite Breitling Galactic
While Breitling was known for sporty, scientific, and industrial timepieces, they eventually expanded to sporty and elegant versions over time. The bejeweled dials available in this collection are exquisite, and collectors admire the Galactic’s functionality and precision. Actors such as John Travolta and athletes like Chelsea’s goalkeeper Petr Cech are constantly spotted with the model on their wrists.
The greatest appeal of Breitling’s Galactic model comes from its two major functions: a date and day-of-the-week window. Its luminescent coating helps with reading the time at night.
Another unique ability is the model’s two scales. First, it has a compass scale for finding the north. Secondly, there is a 1/100th hour scale used to convert minutes into decimal fractions of hours. This is used to measure things such as engine run times.
Galactic, Black Index Dial
Reference #A453201A/BG10
Breitling’s Iconic Navitimer Timepieces
Breitling’s most iconic collection was released in 1952. The first Navitimer was originally only designed for the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association). While it didn’t feature the brand name or logo on the dial, it did handle calculations for flying an airplane. When it was reintroduced in 1956 because of its popularity, the Breitling name finally appeared above a winged logo.
Breitling Navitimer watches were seen in almost every cockpit and on the wrist of every pilot in the late 1950s. It was considered the official supplier to the world of aviation. In the late 1960s, mechanical chronographs were revamped to appeal to a younger generation of watch collectors.
This Breitling chronomatic offered a mechanical movement and a chronograph in one so that people didn’t have to choose. That same year, the case size grew to 48 mm, and the shorter lugs made it more comfortable to wear. It was a success amongst the trendier clientele. This Navitimer 8 range has continued to retain its status as one of the world’s most iconic mechanical chronograph collections. As the favored watch of pilots and aviation enthusiasts, this Navitimer 8 range has continued to retain its status as one of the world’s most iconic mechanical chronograph collections.
Navitimer 8
Black Dial, Reference #A13314101B1A1
Blue Dial, Reference #A13314101C1A1
Breitling continues to produce some of the most durable and functional watches on the market. These are all great investments for someone seeking a luxury timepiece with an impressive heritage.
These are also some of the more affordable luxury watches, a desirable quality for many consumers. It is common for models to start at around $2,500 and rarely exceed $40,000. The most expensive Breitling is the lavish Limited Edition Bentley Flying B (J28362).
Be sure to schedule an appointment with Avi & Co. and see how these legendary timepieces fit around your wrist. Our knowledgeable sales team will go the extra mile to help you buy the watch of your dreams.
