In collaboration with Joaquin Fernandez Cebrian - watches expert
Breitling is among the most luxurious, popular and expensive watch brands- highly praised for its technological performance. The company is over 125 years old and was recently acquired by CVC Capital Partners of Britain. Read along to learn about Breitling’s history, expertise, and some enjoyable fun facts.
Breitling History in a Nutshell
- Breitling was founded in Swiss Jura in 1884 by Léon Breitling, a specialist in chronographs and timers. The technical expertise of Breitling has led to several breakthroughs in the history of watches.
- In 1915 Breitling invented the first independent chronograph push piece, which by 1923 included an advanced technique that was welcomed by sportsmen and scientists: the separation of the start-stop function from the reset button.
- Breitling and Dubouis Dépraz joined together in 1965 to produce world’s first chronograph with automatic winding. Thanks to Breitling’s reliability and efficiency, the brand has been part of many aviation adventures as the official supplier for several air forces. Breitling can also boast being the first ever watch in space, worn by American astronaut Scott Carpenter in 1962.
- In 1995 Breitling launched a timepiece to be used on expeditions, the Emergency, for it could save lives by sending out emergency signals. Up until 1979, when Ernest Schneider took the lead, Breitling was a family business, but even after that Breitling kept specialising in technical precision and innovation, giving the company its high-quality status.
- In April 2017 word got out that Breitling was acquired by CVC Capital Partners of Britain.
Léon Breitling: founder of the first chronograph (capital.fr)
What Makes Breitling So Special?
Founder Léon Breitling's primary focus was on producing high quality and technologically innovative chronographs and timers - and it still shows. Since 1999 Breitling is the first manufacturer to have every one of their watches certified as a chronometer by the COSC, meaning each timepiece is incredibly precise and accurate. Combine this technology with the use of high-quality metals and luxurious stones and you find yourself a watch that stands the test of time. The design is another reason Breitling is a popular watch brand, since the designers often find the perfect combination between luxury and functionality.
Breitling Watches Facts
1. Many celebrities have been known to wear a Breitling, either in real life or in a movie. John Travolta wears a Breitling Chrono Avenger in 'From Paris with Love', and in real life, Travolta likes to wear a Navitimer on his flights - as a pilot, yes. Adventure seeker Bear Grylls puts his trust in the life-saving function of the Emergency in his series of 'Man vs Wild'. You can also see Leonardo DiCaprio wearing a Breitling Colt in 'Blood Diamond'.
2. Although you might assume Breitling’s Chronomat watch was designed for pilots, its target audience was actually a bit less adventurous. They were originally designed to help mathematicians.
3. The Breitling Emergency lifesaving function is no joke. In 2012 a stranded hunter in Alaska was saved thanks to the emergency transmitter in his watch; the same accounts for two helicopter pilots in Antarctica.
4. The 1930 Vitesse stopwatch was so accurate police officers used it to check the speed of motorists.
Taking the technological qualities of Breitling’s watches into account, this is a brand worth investing in. Whether you are interested in an accurate timepiece to wear daily or in a vintage watch with a beautiful history, check out our Exclusive Breitling Watch auction to become the proud owner of a Breitling yourself!