Precision instruments for explorers of the skies, seas, and land since 1884.
Breitling
Founded in 1884 by Léon Breitling in Saint-Imier, Breitling was born with a clear vision: to create instruments capable of measuring, dividing, and mastering time. Specializing in precision chronographs from the very beginning, the manufacturer quickly became a benchmark in the global aviation industry.
Three generations of inventors—Léon, Gaston, and Willy Breitling—shaped the DNA of a brand that has equipped pilots, divers, and adventurers with reliable and precise instruments that go beyond their practical function.
Léon Breitling, deeply influenced by the watchmaking hub of La Chaux-de-Fonds, founded his own workshop in Saint-Imier. To manufacture his watches, he relied on the établissage, a traditional Swiss watchmaking process.
The beginning of a watchmaking legend
The street where the factory was located was renamed “Rue de Montbrillant.” Léon Breitling was so taken with the name that he incorporated it into his company’s name: “L. Breitling, Montbrillant Watch Manufactory.”
Breitling launches the "Vitesse" pocket chronograph, designed to measure speeds between 15 and 250 km/h. This innovation was so accurate that the Swiss police adopted it to issue the first speeding tickets.
The first official instrument for measuring speed
Just 26 years after its founding, Breitling produced its 100,000th watch. This exceptional production volume for the time established Breitling as one of the leading manufacturers of precision instruments.
Gaston Breitling, the founder’s son, launched the first watch featuring a dedicated chronograph push-button at the 2 o’clock position. This push-button was used to start, stop, and reset the chronograph—a practical feature that would quickly be adopted by the entire industry.
The Birth of the Modern Chronograph
Gaston Breitling patented a revolutionary system that allowed the chronograph to be stopped using the pusher at the 2 o'clock position and restarted independently when the crown was in a different position. This innovation marked a turning point in chronograph functionality.
At just 19 years old, Willy Breitling convinced his mother that he was ready to take over the family business. He proved to be exactly what Breitling needed: a visionary, inventive, and possessing the rare ability to seize opportunities at just the right moment.
A new generation is taking the reins
Willy Breitling introduced a second push-piece at the 4 o'clock position, thereby creating the definitive form of the modern chronograph. This pioneering system was produced on an industrial scale and set the standard that continues to this day in the global watchmaking industry.
The setup that defined an industry
Every Breitling tells the story of a relentless quest: to make time an ally for those who push the limits in the air, at sea, and on land.
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