In 1952, Breitling introduced the iconic Navitimer, a watch model famously associated with aviation. However, the Swiss watch industry faced a quartz crisis in the 1970s, leading to staff layoffs and a decline in mechanical watch sales, leading to the company's liquidation in 1979. Sinn, a company that bought the rights to the Navitimer, was involved in the process. They sold the Navitimer to Sicura and Sinn, while the remaining Breitling stock was bought by Sinn, Ollech, Wajs, and another company. Sinn focused on developing the Navitimer model with innovative technology, which accelerated when Lothar Schmidt took over in 1993. Since 1961, Sinn has built a reputation in horology for creating some of the best tool watches in the industry, using cutting-edge technologies such as Ar-Dehumidifying and antimagnetic construction, Tegiment steel hardening, and temperature stabilized movements. They were also favored by the German police and fire service, astronauts, and pilots with their range of TESTAF-certified pilot watches.
