Breitling is a manufacturer of Swiss watches which is headquartered in Grenchen, Switzerland. Leon Breitling established the firm in 1884 and over the last century the brand has become famous for its chronometers which are precision made and well suited to aviators.

Brietling Watch Styles

Breitling watches are completely manufactured in Switzerland using Swiss labor and parts. Their watches are known for two movements, which are the caliber B04 and caliber B01, which may sometimes have a GMT module attached. Some Breitling watches will contain ebauches which are supplied by companies such as Valjoux or ETA. The ebauches must undergo strict COSC certification before being utilized.

These watches are praised by pilots and even astronauts for their chronometers, which makes them distinct from other Swiss brands. Breitling watches are typically marketed towards those who engage in extreme activities, such as aviation or diving. The watches however are stylish and notable for their cases and bracelets, which are polished as well as their bigger watchfaces, which enhance readability.Breitling timepieces also frequently display automatic winding which is completely mechanical. By the 1940s the company had begun incorporating a side rule which is circular into the bezel of the chronograph watches so they could be used in airplanes. The most famous of these is the Navitimer.

By the 1960s Breitling timepieces had become popular among astronauts, who begin requesting 24 hour dials as opposed to standard dials which were 12 hours. This was due to the fact that there is no night or day while in outer space. Breitling responded by manufacturing the Cosmonaute Navitimer, which was used by both astronauts and military pilots. Another groundbreaking model released by this company is the Breitling Emergency, which uses radio transmitters which can broadcast on the distress frequency of 121.5 MHz.

Wearing Your Breitling

Breitling watches are unique among Swiss brands because they do more than tell time while making the wearer look good; they are extremely durable, high end watches designed for professionals. If you’re a soldier, pilot, astronaut, skydiver or anyone engaged in extreme activities, this watch is perfect for you. It was stylish enough to appear in the James Bond film Thunderball, yet functional enough to be worn by Scott Carpenter, an astronaut who was part of the Mercury Space project.

Simply put, this is a serious watch for serious men, and it comes with hefty price tag. Some models will only be issued to those who are licensed pilots or part of certain organizations or squadrons. Those operating in remote or potentially hazardous environments will have peace of mind in knowing they have a reliable timepiece with an emergency transmitter. In fact, Breitling was put to the test in 2003 when a couple of British pilots flying a helicopter in Antarctica, one of the most remote and desolate places on Earth, crashed. The two men survived and received assistance after initiating the emergency transmitter within their Breitling watches. Their watches passed the test with flying colors.