The watch industry has a lot to talk about culture, heritage, history and heritage. To put it bluntly, if you want your watch to sell well, you must first tell the story of your own brand well. A catchy story, combined with a good product force, usually succeeds.
Interestingly, the stories of many big brand watches closely reflect and influence the greatest moments in modern human history.
For example, the first person to land on the moon carries a watch. If there is no chronograph in the cabin, the first human power flight will not take off. In both world wars, soldiers in the trenches of each camp lived or died with a watch in their pockets. Clocks and watches have witnessed too many historical moments.
However, Breitling is also the closest friend of its history compared to other brands' watches.
In 1884 Breitling founder Leon Breitling
Since 1884
In 1882, the world was in a period of transition. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing and the world had become incredibly modern. Industry, science and sport are all advancing by leaps and bounds, and the witness to all this is Leon Breitling. Breitling knew that all these progressive efforts required more precise timing methods than current ones. The world is evolving faster than the watch world – Leon noticed this.
Breitling's first chronograph
Leon Breitling was an aviation fan, and when brave humans tried to fly in the sky on a "heavier-than-air" machine for the first time in history, one of the technologies needed was an easy-to-use timer that could free the hands of pilots, and pocket watches with often bracelets were no longer suitable for the aviation industry. As a result, Breitling created the world's first wrist-worn chronograph with buttons separated from the crown. It's much easier to use in the sky than a pocket watch.
The aviation industry is growing rapidly, and Breitling is walking alongside them. Whether it's developing new watches for pilots or instrumentation for aircraft cabin dashboards, Breitling is working to make the cockpit a more practical and elegant place.
Willy Breitling, grandson of founder Léon
After the start of World War II, Europe fell into darkness, and Willie Breitling took charge of the brand founded by his grandfather. Nazi Germany besieged Switzerland and prevented the export of Swiss products, especially items that could be used in war. This also includes Breitling watches.
But Willie wasn't intimidated. He and a group of friends would drive to a field near the Breitling factory and use their car headlights and lights to build a makeshift runway. The plane could then load precious cargo and take off — all without the knowledge of local Nazi intelligence. This is smuggling under the nose of the Nazis.
In order to provide himself with an alibi in these midnight smuggling activities, Willie will definitely go to the local bar before returning home to make himself stand out. Relying on smuggling, Willie provided the Allies with a number of watches and dashboard equipment that could be used in war.
The Breitling Unitime in 1951 shows the slimmer, more refined side of Breitling design
After the war, peace prevailed in Europe, and various manufacturers believed that the demand for chronographs would plummet.
Breitling reacted quickly, and they began to produce watches that were thinner, more elegant and could be worn with suits. At that time, many watch manufacturers did not pay attention to the market for women's watches, but their losses were the harvest of Breitling.
Breitling Chronomat in the 1940s
At the same time, Breitling continues to develop trustworthy chronographs. In fact, it was during this period that their most popular model, the Navitimer, was designed by Willy Breitling.
The first Breitling aviation chronograph in 1952
When it comes to pilot's watches, few brands or styles are as recognizable as Navitimer. Knurled bezel and very useful slide rule – specially designed to measure all kinds of flight times.
The Navitimer first appeared on civilian wrists in 1952, and the unique design hasn't changed much since its debut. Classics last forever.
Thanks to the success of the Navitimer, Breitling instruments were soon installed on the best propellers and jets of the era. In the "golden age" of air travel, this was no small feat.
Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute in 1962
Breitling is indeed best known for its Pilot's Watch. Major Scott Carpenter made three flights around the globe in 1962 while wearing a slightly improved Breitling watch.
This watch was named Navitimer Cosmonaute by Breitling.
In 1957, Breitling introduced the Superocean Watch (now the Super Ocean Series), which was built to meet the needs of professional divers and recreational diving enthusiasts, a collection that has stood the test of time and continues to this day.
Georges Kern is the current CEO of Breitling
Breitling is now moving forward at the helm of the new CEO Georges Kern, the brand is taking on new challenges, and they are also working to develop smaller, more refined timepieces.
Puya B01 Chronograph 42 Norton Special Edition
Kern has introduced a series of streamlined, simple Breitling that still embody the essence of the brand. For example, the Puya series, which is also the author's favorite series, the Puya series and the norton motorcycle joint model is one of the author's favorites. This series has some yuppie, some sports, some uninhibited.
In fact, the Puya collection is also a retrospective of a glorious and elegant period in breitling's brand history, circa 1943, when it catered to the jazz-influenced lifestyle of European beauties.
Some of the interesting things about Breitling are also here to hear about them.
Both Breitlings died unexpectedly young.
Operating for decades, Breitling's name did not appear on the dial until more than 40 years after its founding. This applies not only to Breitling, but also to many Swiss watch brands. The reason is that these brands don't think about branding and building brands. They consider simply making great watches.
In 1930, Breitling introduced the patented Vitesse stopwatch. This Vitesse stopwatch is so accurate that police use it to time speeding drivers.
Breitling pioneered the introduction of emergency watches with integrated emergency beacons, which have proven to be true lifeguards many times since 1995. In 2003, two British helicopter pilots were stranded and rescued in Antarctica with Breitling emergency watches. Almost a decade later, an Alaskan hunter was found and rescued by his Breitling emergency watch.
Breitling invented the self-winding chronograph movement in 1969.
Omega is a world-famous lunar watch, but Breitling made the first chronograph into space, and beyond the Earth's atmosphere in 1962, astronaut Malcolm Scott Carpenter wore breitling Cosmonaute during a mission to the Aurora 7 capsule. To help it in space, Breitling added a 24-hour dial to help astronauts distinguish between day and night.
Every employee of Breitling receives a Breitling watch, and if an employee chooses to leave the company, they will have the opportunity to buy the watch at a special price. Part of that, of course, is to avoid people coming to Breitling to work just to buy a watch and leave.
Breitling only produces watches, and Breitling has had only five CEOs since 1884.