Breitling SA
| Industry | Watch manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Wristwatches, timing devices/systems, fashion accessories |
| Website | Breitling.com |
Breitling (German pronunciation: [bʁaɪtliŋ]) is a luxury brand of Swiss watches produced by Breitling SA, a private company headquartered in Grenchen, Canton of Solothurn (originally founded in Saint-Imier, Bernese Jura by Léon Breitling in 1884).[1] The company exclusively offered Certified Chronometers in all models since 2000. Watches are usually oriented towards three categories: Diving (SuperOcean), Aviation (Navitimer), and Luxury (Breitling for Bentley). Aviation models such as the Navitimer offer aviation functions largely as complications, since their function in aviation has largely been replaced by modern electronic instruments. The styling of Breitling watches is characterized by polished cases and bracelets and large watch faces which are designed to improve readability. Many models feature an automatic winding mechanism that is purely mechanical (i.e. using no electronic components) and frequently feature complications.
All Breitling watches are manufactured in Switzerland and are made from Swiss components. Raw movements are obtained from ETA and Valjoux and are modified in the Breitling Chronometrie Workshops, before undergoing COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) certification. Breitling has designed and manufactured two in-house movements: The Breitling calibre B01 and B04 (a B01 with an added GMT module).[2]
The first inhouse manufactured calibre BR01 was used in the Breitling Chronomat and the watch was named the Chronomat 01. This being the first all inhouse Breitling timepiece. The Chronomat has ever since had a Breitling inhouse movement at its heart with the latest addition to the range in 2012 being the The Breitling Chronomat GMT Limited, an exclusive limited traveller timepiece [3] and Breitling Chronomat 44 GMT, both with the Breitling B04 Calibre inhouse movement installed.
Quartz models such as the Breitling Aeromarine Colt start at $2,055.00 on a rubber strap, while mechanical models start at $3,000 and may reach prices above $100,000. Most higher priced models feature highly complex movements, gold cases and bracelets, and diamonds on the bezel. The most expensive model at $175,000, the Breitling for Bentley Mulliner Tourbillon, features a platinum case, as well as a Flyback chronograph, perpetual calendar, and Tourbillon.
Breitling Navitimer
In the 1940s, Breitling added a circular slide rule to the bezel of their chronograph models for use by aircraft pilots. This became the famous Navitimer model. 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, approached Breitling with idea of incorporating a 24 hour dial instead of the normal 12 hour dial. This was needed because of the lack of day and night during space travel. Breitling complied, and produced the 24 hour Navitimer which Carpenter wore on his 1962 space flight. Breitling then proceeded to produce the 24 hour version as the so-called Cosmonaute Navitimer - under both Breitling and AOPA logos.
The Navitimer has been a stolwart of the Breitling watch range for many years and of the entire range has a distinct and unique look, It is also now also one of a few Breitling timepieces to have an inhouse movement installed and this movement in the aptly named Breitling Navitimer 01. The movement in question is Breitlings Caliber 01 or BR01 as it is known.
Breitling Emergency
The Breitling Emergency version contains a radio transmitter for civil aviation use which broadcasts on the 121.5 MHz distress frequency and serves as a back-up for ELT-type airborne beacons. (For military users, Breitling has equipped the Emergency with a miniaturized transmitter operating on the 243.0 MHz military frequency.) Under normal conditions—flat terrain or calm seas—the signal can be picked up at a range of up to 90 nautical miles (167 km) by search aircraft flying at 20,000 feet (6,000 m). As of 1 February 2009, the Cospas-Sarsat Satellite System will no longer monitor the 121.5/243.0 MHz frequency; however, the signal transmitted by the Emergency was never strong enough to be picked up by satellite, and Breitling has announced that, as these frequencies will still be monitored by aviation, particularly during the localization phase of a rescue attempt, there are no plans to modify the signal's frequency.[1]
Reuters reported that in January 2003, two British pilots, Squadron Leader Steve Brooks and Flight Lieutenant Hugh Quentin-Smith, crashed their helicopter in Antarctica and were rescued after activating their Breitling Emergency transmitter watches. The two pilots were in their lifeboat when a Chilean Otter aircraft found them after homing in on signals from their watches. [2]
The Emergency is available for customers who do not hold a pilot's licence, but they must sign an agreement stating that they will bear the full costs of a rescue intervention should they trigger the distress beacon. The model was heavily advertised by the Breitling Orbiter 3—both Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard were wearing the Emergency. Breitling sponsored the Orbiter 3 project, which in 1999 successfully became the first balloon to completely orbit the Earth without landing. A commemorative Orbiter 3 version of the Emergency watch was subsequently produced, limited to a production run of 1,999.
Additional Breitling models
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Breitling Chronomat Evolution -
Breitling Superocean -
Breitling Navitimer -
Breitling for Bentley Motors: Features a 30 second chronograph -
Breitling Super Avenger (48 mm) -
Breitling Super Avenger (48 mm) -
2007 Breitling Super Avenger 48mm w/Diamond Bezel
-
Breitling SuperOcean Heritage Chrono 125th Anniversary -
Breitling Steelfish Superocean X-Plus
Base movements
| Breitling Movement | Base movement |
|---|---|
| B01 | Calibre Breitling, first and only in-house movement |
| B10 | ETA 2892-A2 |
| B11 | Lemania 1873 |
| B12 | Lemania 187 |
| B13 | Valjoux 7750 |
| B17 | ETA 2824 |
| B18 | ETA 2892-A2 |
| B19 | ETA 2892-A2 |
| B20 | Valjoux 7750 |
| B21 | Valjoux 7751 |
| B22 | ETA 2892-A2 |
| B24 | Valjoux 7754 |
| B26 | ETA 2892-A2 |
| B30 | ETA 2892-A2 |
| B33 | ETA 2892-A2 |
| B34 | ETA 1185/86 |
| B35 | ETA 2892 |
| B36 | ETA 2892 |
| B38 | ETA 2892-A2 |
| B39 | ETA 2892-A2 |
| B40 | ETA 2892-A2 |
| B41 | ETA 2892 |
| B42 | ETA 2892 |
| B43 | Valjoux 7758 |
| B44 | ETA 2892 |
| B45 | ETA 2834-2 |
The Breitling in house movement BR01 was introduced in 2009, a little about why and when here:
In 2009, Breitling laid a major milestone in its history by joining the exclusive circle of the rare watch companies to have their own mechanical chronograph movement. This was a logical culminating point for a brand that is one of the leaders in this complication and has played a crucial role in its technical development through several key inventions: the first independent pushpiece (1915); separation of the stop/start and reset functions (1923); creation of the second independent pushpiece for zero-resetting (1934); and the launch of the very first selfwinding chronograph (1969). Caliber 01, the first movement entirely developed and produced in the Breitling workshops, was first used to power an exclusive new version of the leading Chronomat model, duly named Chronomat 01. Breitling now introduces it within another watchmaking icon, the famous Navitimer which proudly embodies the brand’s aeronautical vocation.[4]
Note: The ETA 2892 movements used in Breitling chronographs have been modified by the addition of a chronograph module by Dubois/Depraz.
Notable appearances
- Sean Connery wore a Breitling heavily modified as a radiation detector in the 1965 movie Thunderball.
- Bear Grylls wears an Emergency with yellow face and rubber strap in many episodes of Man vs. Wild.
Sponsorship
Breitling sponsors aeronautical endeavours, including the first circumnavigation of the globe by balloon (Breitling Orbiter) and the fixed-wing jet pack flights of Yves Rossy. Breitling sponsors aerobatics teams including the Breitling Jet Team and Breitling Wingwalkers.
Breitling was a sponsor of Team Bentley during their Le Mans 24 Hours campaign, running from 2001-2003. To commemorate this event, Breitling created the Limited Edition Breitling Bentley 24 Le Mans Watch.[citation needed]
Breitling also sponsors the Reno Air Race for publicity as well as to increase the brands association with aviation.
Chronosport watches
Breitling also manufactured Chronosport watches in the 1980s with the model name "Pluton", and appeared in the Breitling catalog until 1999.
References
- ^ "Breitling SA: Private Company Information". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "New Calibre: Breitling Launches Chronomat B01". Professionalwatches.com, May 28, 2009. Accessed 2011-03-02.
- ^ "The Breitling Chronomat GMT Limited". The Watch Review Site, March 11, 2012.
- ^ "Breitling Navitimer 01 - New fully inhouse movement and manufacture". The Watch Review Site, March 11, 2012.
External links
- Official website (requires Adobe Flash Player)