Breitling is yet another brand of Swiss-made watches founded by Leon Breitling in 1884. It was first established in Bernese Jura, specifically, Saint-Imier,. It is currently located at Grenchen, Canton of Solothurn. The company makes Certified Chronometers for aviation but they are also used as luxury watches. Breitling watches offer aviation and chronograph functions which make them more valuable. Most Breitling watches can accommodate more information on their analogue dials because they allocate large diameters for the dial’s face. They are also capable of winding themselves. Breitling watches are also installed with other functions such as split-second, flyback function, moon phase, date display, and many more.

Breitling watches are made in Switzerland alone with pure Swiss materials. Most of these raw materials come from Valjoux and ETA. These are further processed in the Breitling Chronometrie Workshops since 1999 until it passed the COSC certification.

Breitling quartz models usually sell at $2,055 upwards like the Breitling Aeromarine Colt with a rubber strap. Those with steel cases sell at $7,300 upwards like the Breitling for Bentley Motors model. What make this model expensive are the Bentley label and the 38 jewel with automatic winding. Models with diamond inlays include I.E. Diamond Bezel, Diamond Bracelet, and others.

Breitling Navitimer
The Navitimer model is a chronograph model which was introduced in the 1940s. It has a circular slide bezel and was usually used by pilots. This model was adopted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPOS) in the 1950s and 1960s.

In 1961, the Mercury space program headed by the astronaut Scott Carpenter tapped Breitling to make a 24-hour dial because during space travel, day and night cannot be determined. In 1962, Carpenter wore his 24-hour Navitimer during his space flight. This model came to be called the Cosmonaute Navitimer. This model bears both the names of Breitling and AOPOS.

Breitling Emergency
The Breitling Emergency is usually used for civil aviation to broadcast on the distress frequency, 121.5 MHz. It also assists airborne beacons that are of the ELT type. Under flat terrains and calm weather conditions, the watch can communicate through airwaves up to 90 nautical miles and will be picked by an aircraft flying at 20,000 feet. In February 1, 2009, the Cospas-Sarsat Satellite System no longer monitors the said 121.5 MHz.
Emergency was also reported to have saved lives. The report was about two British pilots, Squadroon Leader Steve Brooks and Flight Lieutenant Hugh Quentin-Smith, who were saved when they activated their Breitling Emergency watches after crashing in Antarctica. The homing devices from their watches were found in the lifeboats that they used.
Breitling Emergency can also be availed by non-pilot customers given that they will sign an agreement that they will pay for the rescue intervention once they activate the distress call. Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard were the commercial endorsers for the model. They wore the Emergency. Bear Grylls wore the same model in the episodes of Man vs. Wild.

Other Breitling Models

• Breilting Chronomat
• Breitling Navitimer
• Breitling for Bentley Motors – with a 30-second chronograph
• Breitling Super Avenger 48 mm
• 2007 Breitling Super Avenger 48 mm with Diamond Bezel

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