Breitling SA

Breitling SA is a Swiss luxury watchmaker founded in 1884 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, by Léon Breitling. Breitling's HQ is based in Grenchen, and their production is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.

Since 2022 the company is owned by Partners Group, a publicly traded private equity firm.[1] In 2023, Breitling made its first major acquisition, buying Universal Genève. In 2025, Breitling acquired Gallet.

History

Breitling SA was founded in Saint-Imier by Léon Breitling in 1884.[2] When Breitling died in 1914, the business passed to his son, Gaston

Products

The company's mechanical or quartz movements are chronometer certified by the COSC[6] and are usually marketed towards either diving (SuperOcean) or aviation (Navitimer). Aviation models offer aviation functions largely as novelty complications, since such functionality has largely been replaced by modern electronic instruments and electronic flight bags (EFBs). The styling of Breitling watches consists of polished cases, bracelets, and large watch faces for improved readability. Many models have an automatic winding mechanism with complications.

Breitling offers logo customization for pilots with group orders. By the 1990s, the use of logos for military aviation customers expanded to include various unit logos on the Aerospace and Chronospace Auto models, primarily those of squadrons, usually part of a group purchase by pilots and navigators/flight officers of the particular unit.[7]

Historically, Breitling has sourced movements from suppliers such as Valjoux, ETA, and Venus rather than producing movements in-house; however, in 2009 Breitling developed the B01, a self-winding, column wheel chronograph movement, for use in the Breitling Chronomat 01 and Navitimer 01.[8]

Top Time

Navitimer

In the 1940s, Breitling added a circular slide rule to the bezel of its Chronomat models. This bezel became most associated with the Navitimer, launched in 1954. The name Navitimer comes from two words were used to describe its purpose: Navigation and Timer.[9] During the 1950s and 1960s, a version of the Navitimer was offered by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association with the AOPA logo on the dial.

In 1961, Scott Carpenter, one of the original astronauts in the Mercury space program, tasked Breitling with incorporating a 24-hour dial instead of the normal 12-hour dial, due to lack of day and night in space travel. Breitling produced the 24-hour Navitimer, which Carpenter wore on his 1962 space flight. Breitling proceeded to produce a commercial version of the 24-hour version, the Cosmonaute Navitimer, with both Breitling and AOPA logos.[10]

The first automatic Navitimer chronograph was introduced to the public in 1969; its movement was co-developed by Breitling, Dubois-Depraz, Heuer

type	Private
foundation	1884, in Saint-Imier, Switzerland
founder	Léon Breitling
location city	Grenchen
location country	Switzerland
key people	Georges Kern (CEO)
industry	Watch manufacturing
products	Wristwatches
owner	Partners Group

History

Products

Top Time

Navitimer

Sponsorship

In popular culture

External links

References

Chronomat

Emergency

Emergency II

Emergency II

Breitling for Bentley