Breitling is one of the best and well-known watch companies in the world. Leon Breitling founded the watch company in 1884 at only twenty-four years of age. Leon Breitling had a goal to produce high-quality and precise technical watches that specialize in chronographs. The brand is so reputable that the Navitimer is known as the standard watches for pilots all over the world, which was the first wristwatch that was equipped with a navigation computer that could calculate flight plans. In 1923, Breitling manufactured the first chronograph pushpiece that could include start to return-to-zero functions. This was a major breakthrough for the Swiss watch company.
During World War I, the advancements in aviation sparked Breitling to manufacture the first wristwatch chronograph. This was the first wristwatch with chronograph for pilots. After World War I, Breitling began to design and manufacture chronometers and chronographs for aircraft, and the company was also an innovator in aviation timekeeping. The first watch with a fitted circular slide rule bezel was founded by Breitling in 1942, which made the watch brand a top choice for aviator pilots.
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By the 1930s Will Breitling took over the watch company and developed the second return-to-zero pushpiece, which was the first watch to enable the measurement of several successive short times by using the primary pushpiece. In 1936, the Royal Air Force selected Breitling as their official supplier of pilot watches.
In the 1960s the watches became so popular for durability and accuracy that astronaut Scott Carpenter wore his Breitling watch when he journeyed to the moon, which was later named the Cosmonaute Chronograph in honor of the event. Breitling also contributed to an innovative breakthrough when they partnered with Buren and Huer-Leonidas to create the first self-winding chronograph movement, which was a major accomplishment for Swiss watches.
In the 1980s Breitling released the Chronomat, which was a watch that was created in collaboration with the Frecce Tricolori Elite Flight Team. The model was and continues to be a top-selling watch in the Breitling collection.
The 1990s were an innovative decade for Breitling. The company manufactured the Emergency, which was a watch with multi-functioning instruments and micro-transmitters broadcasting on the aircraft emergency frequency. This watch immediately appealed to pilots all over the world. In 1999, Breitling took part in the all-chronometer challenge. The company set a goal to submit its entire line of products to the reputable Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute. Breitling was the first major watch company to adhere to the strict standards of the Swiss Official Chronometer Institute.
In 2001, the Swiss watch company introduced the SuperQuartz, which allowed for movement that was 10 times faster than watches that contain standard quartz. The SuperQuartz created electronic movements that are unmatched, and it is the only one available that has met the requirements of the COSC.
To this day Breitling continues to create the most trusted and innovative watches on the planet, and the wide-range of watches are worn by aircraft pilots and individuals who want a durable and technical timepieces.