Breitling
Breitling can’t help but appeal to those who look for elegant, sporty watches brimming with character. Specialising in state-of-the-art chronographs, this watchmaker has a modern manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds and a service centre in Grenchen. Historically, it has a large fan base in the Czech Republic which makes it one of the most desired brands on the Czech market. The original look of a Breitling watch often harkens back to the popular Chronomat, Navitimer or Superocean models from the 1940s-50s.
Pilot watches
Breitling boasts a wide range of superb pilot watches steeped in aviation history which have cruised the skies for many years.
Are you too mad about flying and aviation? Are you interested in historic aircraft? Breitling watches conquered the skies when flying was still in its infancy and were the mainstay of pilots during WWII. In 1938 Breitling delivered its first onboard instruments to the RAF made by its Huit Aviation Department, which had been specially set up by Willy Breitling solely for this purpose. The 1940s saw the birth of the now iconic Chronomat watch, it was followed in 1952 by the Navitimer. Both these watches helped pilots find their way in the air by providing them with essential flight data.
Chronographs
Over the course of its illustrious existence, Breitling has more than once earned itself the reputation of being the very best producer of chronographs and the brand has not lost its repute to this day, as evidenced by its in-house B01 movement.
Since his youth Léon Breitling, the brand’s founder, was fascinated with the measurement of time. As early as 1889 he had patented a unique stop watch mechanism which was perfected by his grandson Willy in 1934. The brand was the first to introduce a wrist chronograph in 1915, which featured two buttons. In 1962 the iconic Breitling Navitimer watch was even launched into space and seven years later the brand brought out a self-winding chronograph. The launch of the revolutionary in-house B01 movement came in 2009.
Reliability and timelessness
A history going back more than a century, iconic, ageless models and a COSC certificate of accuracy ensure that Breitling watches are the safest bet you can make on quality and the associated trustworthiness.
During the 135 years of its existence Breitling has established itself as one of the perennial stars of Swiss watchmaking. The brand managed to overcome difficult times (the 1930s and 1980s) while all the time remaining true to making superb mechanical watches of the finest quality. Models such as the Navitimer, Premier, Chronomat, SuperOcean or Emergency have weathered the storms to become icons and, thanks to their timelessness and original look, have not lost any of their value – older, vintage models are, in fact, increasing in value. New products all meet the stringent COSC certification requirements on accuracy (a maximum of -4 or +6 seconds per day).
Robustness
Breitling watches are known for their robust, masculine look and are impossible to overlook when on your wrist. The cases, predominantly made of steel, can be up to 51 mm in size.
Breitling captures the attention with its extensive portfolio of men’s watches featuring a large, masculine case, some of which measure in excess of 50 mm. Watches with pronounced lines made of modern materials such as titanium or carbon are inherent to the brand’s original know-how. It is this knowledge that is at the core of their development and production. This all goes to quite clearly state that these are watches for professionals. In 1999 Breitling watches were worn during the Orbiter 3 expedition, which circumnavigated the earth in a hot air balloon. Thanks to its state-of-the-art location technology, using a number of emergency frequencies, Breitling’s Emergency watch has already saved hundreds of lives.
Popularity
Breitling watches are worn by Hollywood stars, famous sportspeople and determined adventurers. Don’t let yourself go unrecognised, if you want to show what’s in you it suffices to have a Breitling on your wrist.
Countless celebrities wear a Breitling watch. Joining the ranks of the brand’s official ambassadors over the past years are a long list of famous Hollywood names such as Brad Pitt and Adam Driver, top sportspeople including triathletes and surfers as well as adventurers and, of course, pilots. However, the principal faces representing the brand with the B in its logo are not just male by any means. Such female icons like the actress Charlize Theron or Australian surfers Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons also wear one. The stars wear Breitling, why not join them?
Unmistakable and original
The shape and look of Breitling watches is clearly pronounced and unmistakable. These sporty timepieces, which are extraordinarily elegant at the same time, speak volumes for you.
Unique in many respects, Breitling watches are impossible to ignore. If chosen carefully, they literally chime in with their wearer’s personality. Nowadays the collections are made up of many iconic model ranges. The latest watches in these lines have been sensitively transformed into their contemporary appearance. An original design, accurate mechanical or quartz movements and flawless finishes are the hallmark of Breitling watches across all the brand’s collections.
More about Breitling
You can choose from nine model ranges which are divided into four categories: air, earth, water and professional. The majority of the watches are powered by mechanical – mostly automatic – movements. All the models, including those featuring quartz (SuperQuartz) movements, have a COSC certificate of accuracy. Upon purchase you can choose between an elegant strap or a sturdy bracelet. You may also appreciate the five-year quality guarantee. At this moment in time the offer includes a number of limited editions.In advertisement campaigns you will come across military terminology such as “mission” and “platoon”. Breitling divides its ambassadors according to their professional focus resulting in a group of 20 international personalities from various fields who all officially represent the watch with the B in its logo.
The brand’s history
It all started in 1884 in St. Imier when Léon Breitling set up a workshop to make pocket watches. He specialised in chronographs, which he supplied to the army, scientists and sportsmen. Six years later he already had 60 employees and moved into a new manufacture at La Chaux-de-Fonds.In 1914 Léon’s son Gaston took over the firm presenting the world’s very first chronograph wristwatch which featured a button on top of the crown. A further innovation, a second press button, was introduced twenty years later by the family’s second successor, Willy Breitling.
Willy Breitling was a visionary and brought out many patents – he was the creator of the Chronomat and Premier models. In the 1950s he introduced the world to the Navitimer pilot watch. This watch not only measured time but also helped pilots to navigate the skies. In 1957 he unveiled the SuperOcean diver’s watch which was water-resistant to a depth of 200 metres – unprecedented at the time – and in 1962 he sent the Navitimer off into space.
Seven years later, as part of the Project 99 Calibre 11, he presented an automatic chronograph featuring a micro-rotor. Nowadays the brand’s service centre is based in Grenchen, while the manufacture can be found at La Chaux-de-Fonds. It is here that the flawless automatic B01 chronograph has been made since 2009. Apart from its quality, you can recognise this watch at first sight because of its three subdials positioned at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock.
Seven years later, as part of the Project 99 Calibre 11, he presented an automatic chronograph featuring a micro-rotor. Nowadays the brand’s service centre is based in Grenchen, while the manufacture can be found at La Chaux-de-Fonds. It is here that the flawless automatic B01 chronograph has been made since 2009. Apart from its quality, you can recognise this watch at first sight because of its three subdials positioned at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock.