Breitling was founded in 1884 by Léon Breitling in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, with a focus on chronographs and precision instruments. Early on, the brand established itself as a specialist in technical watches, producing timepieces for sports, science, and industrial use. In 1915, Breitling introduced one of the world’s first wrist-worn chronographs with a separate pusher—an innovation that would lay the groundwork for the modern chronograph as we know it. By 1934, under Léon’s son Gaston, Breitling refined this with the addition of a second pusher, allowing for independent stop, start, and reset functions—making it a favorite among pilots, engineers, and explorers.
Breitling’s legacy is most closely tied to aviation. In 1952, it introduced the now-iconic Navitimer, a chronograph with a built-in slide rule designed for flight calculations—instantly embraced by pilots and even adopted as the official watch of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Throughout the jet age, Breitling supplied cockpit instruments for aircraft and continued innovating with the launch of models like the Chronomat, Emergency, and Superocean. Today, Breitling combines its rugged, tool-watch heritage with in-house mechanical movements and vintage-inspired designs, cementing its reputation as a brand that blends utility, history, and bold character—on land, in the sea, and above the clouds.”
