1884
Leon Breitling opens a workshop specializing in making chronographs and
precision counters for scientific and industrial purposes, in St-
Imiez, in the Jura mountains of Switzerland
1891
Known as the "father of aviation", German Otto Lilienthal, flies more than 50 meters (165 ft) in his glider.
1892
Leon BREITLING relocates in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the center of Swiss watch making in those days.
1903
On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk (North Carolina), Orville Wright
achieves the first powered flight in a heavier-than-air machine: 12
seconds over a distance of 36.5 meters.
1909
On July 25, 1909, Louis Bleriot, "conqueror of the Channel"
successfully flies from Calais to Dover in 37 minutes, in a Bleriot XI.
1914
On the demise of Leon Breitling, his son Gaston takes over the firm.
1915
Gaston provides pilots with the first wrist instruments and creates the first wrist-watch chronograph
1918
The spectacular progress made in aviation during World War I does much
to hasten the end of the conflict. It is the end of the era of the
formidable "Red Baron", Manfred von Richthofen
1942
CHRONOMAT is launched, the first chronograph to be fitted with a
circular slide rule. In parallel, the company broadens its professional
clientele to include the American armed forces. July 18, 1942, sees the
test flight of the world's first jet aircraft, the Messerschmitt 262.
Equipped with arrow-shaped wings, an aerodynamic fuselage and an
ejection seat, it is considered to be the forerunner of modern
aircraft.
1947
At 10.30 am on October 14, 1947, the Bell X-1 flown breaks through the
hither to inviolate sound barrier. The era of supersonic flight dawns.
1952
NAVITIMER is created, a wrist instrument equipped with the famous
"navigation computer" capable of handling all calculations called for
by a flight plan. This super chronograph quickly becomes a firm
favorite among pilots around the globe. By this stage, BREITLING is
already supplying the major international airlines with cockpit
counters.
1957
The first series produced Boeing 707 takes off from Seattle On December
20, 1957. Twice as fast as other commercial aircraft, it offers
hitherto unrivalled levels of comfort
1962
Astronaut Scott Carpenter wears the COSMONAUTE chronograph on his wrist
during his orbital flight aboard the Aurora 7 space capsule.
1969
BREITLING invents the self-winding chronograph movement. This technical
feat represents a major breakthrough for the entire Swiss watch
industry. On February 9, 1969, the Boeing 747 or Jumbo Jet makes a
successful test flight. Barely a month later, on March 2 in Toulouse,
the Franco-British Concorde supersonic plane takes off for the very
first time.
1974
The European Airbus project takes shape with the entry into service
within Air France of the A-300, the first twin-engined wide-bodied jet
airliner.
1979
Ernest Schneider - a pilot, watch manufacturer and microelectronics
specialist - takes over the BREITLING brand from the founder's
grandson, Willy Breitling.
1981
Aeronautical innovations continue with the first stealth bomber. This
aircraft, capable of avoiding radar detection systems, is secretly put
into service from 1983 onwards, but its existence will only be
officially recognized in 1988
1985
An innovative multifunction electronic chronograph crafted in titanium, the AEROSPACE, immediately appeals to many pilots.
1993
On March 4, 1993, the Saab Gripen began operating within the Swedish
Air Force. It is the world's first 4th-generation fighter plane in
service. Described as a "multi-role" aircraft, it can be used for
interception, attack and reconnaissance missions.
1994
Entry into service of the B-2 stealth bomber made by Northrop Grumman.
1995
EMERGENCY is presented by Brietling, a multifunction instrument watch
with built-in micro-transmitter broadcasting on the 121.5 MHz aircraft
emergency frequency.
1997
A major development in military aviation, with the first flight of the
F-22 Raptor from Lockheed Martin; this 4th-generation fighter aircraft,
which is also a stealth bomber, is the most sophisticated plane ever
built
1998
B-1 is launched, the most versatile multifunction chronograph ever to
emerge from its workshops. Designed in cooperation with aviation
professionals and fitted with a microprocessor specially developed for
BREITLING, the B-1 embodies significant progress in the field of Swiss
microelectronic engineering.
1999
The last aviation record is set on March 21st 1999. After 20 days of
flight, the experimental BREITLING ORBITER 3 balloon, flown by Brian
Jones and Bertrand Piccard, touches down in the Egyptian desert. It has
achieved the apparently impossible: a non-stop round-the-world balloon
flight.
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