Breitling Watches

Established by Leon Breitling, in Saint Imier, Bernese Jura, in Switzerland in 1884, watchmakers Breitling have become one of the highest-respected manufacturers of luxury watches, right across the globe.

The watches were predominantly designed for the purpose of use within the aviation industry, and due to this fact, they are most commonly recognised by their company logo, which features the letter ‘B’ with a pair of aviation-style wings.

Initially, Breitling specialised in creating items such as chronographs and precision counters, during a period in history when air travel was an entirely new concept. However, when Leon Breitling died in 1914, the company was passed onto his son Gaston. On taking over the company, Gaston chose to expand the company, by designing a wristwatch that featured his father’s infamous chronograph.

In 1923, nine years after Gaston took over the company, Breitling released the first timepiece more buttons than the conventional winding piece on the side. The new watch also featured a start and return-to-zero buttons, that worked independently of the winding piece.

Leon Breitling’s grandson, Willy, took over Breitling in 1932, and by 1936, Willy had led the company into partnership with the Royal Air Force, making Breitling their longstanding suppliers of equipment.

Over the years, Breitling watches have become more adaptable to changes in aviation, making them an essential (and highly popular) piece of kit amongst pilots.
In 1969, Breitling worked alongside Buren and Heuer-Leoniadas, in inventing what was to become a major breakthrough in Swiss watch making; the world’s first chronograph with the capabilities of self-winding.

After nearly one hundred years as a family business, Breitling was taken over by pilot Ernest Schneider in 1979.

In 2003, Breitling joined forces for UK car manufacturers Bentley. The union included a collection called ‘Breitling for Bentley’.

In 2009, Breitling celebrated it’s 125th anniversary, and the company continues to pride itself on “functionality, ruggedness, precision and tested quality.”