Léon Breitling focused on chronographs, which were increasingly in demand at the time for industrial, military, and scientific applications as well as for athletic organizations. In 1889, Léon Breitling was granted a patent for a simplified model, which distinguished itself from its competitors through its sleek design, uncomplicated manufacturing process, and straightforward maintenance.
Awards followed, establishing the company’s reputation and prompting a move to a new factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1892. L. Breitling, Montbrillant Watch Manufacturing soon had 60 employees focused on making precise, innovative timepieces.
The final chapter in the Breitling family saga was one of the most important. In 1965, Willy Breitling participated in the development of the world’s first micro-rotor automatic chronograph in cooperation with Jack W. Heuer, the Büren-based movement manufacturer, and Dubois-Dépraz, a specialist in chronograph control wheels. The 1969 launch of the Chrono-Matic, with its winding crown on the left side, caused a sensation on the international watch scene. This true original has since been optimized several times and manufactured in different versions.
In May 2017, Breitling became a part of CVC Capital Partners, and in July of that year, Georges Kern assumed the role of CEO. With his team, Georges Kern, who has already had a distinguished career in the watch industry, looks forward to carrying on a rich tradition whose roots go all the way back to a small workshop in St. Imier in 1884.
Breitling on MrWatchMaster: