Breitling

Founded in 1884 by Léon Breitling in Switzerland, Breitling built its reputation on precision chronographs designed for professionals. By the early 20th century, the brand became a leader in aviation watches, supplying pilots with reliable timekeeping instruments. In 1915, successor Gaston Breitling introduced one of the first wrist-worn chronographs with an independent pusher at 2 o’clock, and in 1934, the brand, under third-generation WIlly Brietling pioneered the two-pusher chronograph design still used today. Breitling solidified its aviation legacy in the 1940s and 50s by crafting onboard instruments for both military and civil-aviation sectors under its “HUIT Aviation” department. In 1952, it launched its now-iconic line, Navitimer featuring a slide rule bezel for flight calculations, making it a favorite among pilots. The brand also played a key role in space exploration, with astronaut Scott Carpenter wearing a Breitling Cosmonaute to space in 1962, making it the first Swiss timepiece in space. Today, Breitling remains at the forefront of innovation, producing high-performance chronometers like Classic AVI, Navitimer, Chronomat, Superocean and Professional.