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When we think of Breitling, we will link it with mens watches for professional divers, pilots, and astronauts. This is a brand that has a track record for about 120 years and with a long standing association among many professional sports and aviation.

Founded by Leon in 1884, it has many outstanding achievements under its name. In 1915, the son, Gaston, founded invented the wristwatch chronographs for pilots. Then in 1923, the independent chronograph pushpiece was patented. It registered another patent in 1926 with the 1/10th of a second counter.

Their most significant patent thereafter was the wristwatch chronograph with seconds return-to-zero function. This was created by Leon’s grandson, Willy.

It was in 1952 that they launched their international trademark mens watch – the Navitimer. It was a hot favorite among the pilots around the world then. The reason is this watch has the capability to measure speed as well as fuel consumption levels.

Ten years later, 1962, the Cosmonaute was developed. It is a chronograph with a 24 hours dial instead of the usual 12 hours dial. It was tested by astronaut Scott Carpenter when he brought it to for an orbital flight on board Aurora 7. In 1969 the Caliber 11 Chronomat mens watch which has a self-winding movement was produced by the company, Heuer, and Hamilton-Buren.

In 1995, the company made an amazing development with the Emergency Mission-526-ST Gents Watch (as shown above). This is a wristwatch for pilots that has not only chronometric functions but also incorporates a minuscule transistor that is able to send out distress signals with international frequencies during accidents. Indeed this very watch saved 13 lives aboard the raft Mata-Rangi.

During the 50th anniversary of the Navitimer, the company created an updated version of the original.