1884 - In St. Imier, in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland, Leon Breitling opens a workshop specializing in making chronographs and precision counters for scientific and industrial purposes. In 1914 Leon Breitling dies and the company is passed over to his son Gaston, a year later Gaston creates the first wristwatch chronograph and subsequently provides pilots with the first wrist instruments. By 1923 Breitling had developed the first ever independent chronograph push piece. 1969 saw Breitling introduce the first ever self winding chronograph. This technical feat represents a major breakthrough for the entire Swiss watch industry. 1979 saw the takeover of Breitling from the founder’s grandson Willy. Ernest Schneider takes the helm. In 1984 The Chronometer is launched and marks the return of the chronograph. It becomes the best selling line in the Breitling collection, a position it has held ever since. Soon afterwards in 1985, the Breitling Aerospace is launched. Today, Breitling is still established in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the town where Leon Breitling opened his first chronograph factory 110 years earlier.
A Breitling is not only a great time piece, but is well known and recognized in the air force. I own a “Chronograph” and a “Hercules” and man let me tell you that I get great compliments from people that know watches Sometimes you’ll get some dudes hating, but those that are cool and understand the brand will always ask where and how much. For a Breitling you are looking to spend anywhere from 2,000-6,000 for a nice watch. The Best place to go for them is “Tourneau Watches”. You can’t find them just anywhere! And yes avoid buying them online, Breitling doesn’t sell their watches online if you do see one it’s probably a fake.
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