Founded in 1884 by Léon Breitling in St. Imier, Switzerland, Breiting was pivotal in the progression of the chronograph. While Léon developed pocket watches with chronographs, his son Gaston continued his father’s legacy by making wrist chronographs. Breitling was also one of the pioneers of the automatic chronograph watch, which debuted in 1969. Breitling’s dedication to the chronograph is still evident, with an immense assortment of high-end chronograph watches in its catalogue.
In the early 1930s, Breitling focused on making aviation instruments, starting with precise cockpit clocks. Pilot chronographs soon followed, such as the Navitimer in the 1950s and the Chronomat in the 1980s. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) selected Breitling as its official timepiece. Breitling has remained closely associated with aviation and continues to be highly popular among pilots everywhere. The brand’s association with flight lives on in its large variety of aviation-style watches and chronographs.
Breitling also manufactures a wide range of other watches styles. The Superocean Heritage and Superocean collections are home to dive watches, the Top Time line offers car racing-inspired chronographs, and the Premier is Breitling’s series of elegant watches. The Professional lineup offers specialized watches like the Emergency, Endurance, and Aerospace, all of which are equipped with multiple functions. To the delight of collectors and enthusiasts, Breitling has been reissuing important vintage watches from its archives in recent years.
Vintage-inspired aviation watches.
All-purpose luxury sports watches characterized by rider tabs on the bezel.
Multi-functional instruments designed for professionals.
Modern interpretations of Breitling’s iconic circular slide chronograph from the 1950s.
Contemporary versions of Breitling’s first diving watches from the 1950s.
Robust high-performance chronographs and sports watches.
Sporty diving watches with rotating timing bezels and luminous dials.
Retro racing chronographs inspired by models from the 1960s.
Modern, elegant timepieces, available in a range of complications.
Casual yet glamorous sports watches for men and women.
Aviation chronographs inspired by vintage models from the 1950s and 60s.
Sports watches characterized by onion-shaped crowns and rider tabs on the bezel.
Similar in style to the Navitimer but with additional complications.
Tough and straightforward watches developed for the armed forces.
Refined watches with vintage style and smooth bezels.
Luxurious sports watches made in collaboration with Bentley automotive.
Breitling watches come in a variety of materials ranging from classics like steel and gold to modern options like titanium and ceramic. There are quite a few diamond-set models to choose from, too. Breitling also boasts an ultra-lightweight proprietary alloy called Breitlight.
Breitling is known to make some of the best bracelets in the business. The vast selection of metal bracelets ranges from multiple-link configurations and mesh to Rouleaux (rolls) styles. Most Breitling bracelets also feature distinct slanted links, a signature design trait of the brand for decades. Aside from metal bracelets, there are also plenty of Breitling watches with leather, fabric, or rubber straps.
Whether automatic, manual, or quartz, all modern Breitling watches are all fitted with chronometer-certified movements. The brand also manufactures in-house made movements at the Breitling Chronométrie facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Breitling SuperQuartz movements are ten times more accurate than standard quartz calibres.