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Breitling is one of the best-known luxury watch brands in the world.
The Breitling saga begins in 1884, when Leon Breitling - just 24 years of age - founded the company in St. Imier, Switzerland. Breitling's goal was simple: to manufacture high-quality technical watches. As his business expanded, the young watchmaker moved the factory to the Swiss village of Grenchen and began specializing in chronograph watches. Today, one can find chronograph pocket watches signed Breitling, which are often of high quality.
Following World War I Breitling began manufacturing watches and chronometers for airplanes. In fact, they were a pioneer in the field of aviation timekeeping. In 1942, Breitling introduced its famous Chronomat model -the first watch fitted with a circular slide rule bezel. With Breitling fast becoming the leading choice of pilots worldwide, it was no surprise when the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association named the newly introduced three-register version as its official watch. The watch gained further fame when launched on the retail market as the Navitimer. The companys fame grew even greater when astronaut Scott Carpenter wore his Breitling on the moon.
Like many Swiss watch companies Breitling was hit hard by the quartz revolution, and in 1979, former pilot Ernest Schneider was hired as its new CEO. Schneider cleverly conducted a public relations campaign designed to influence peoples attitudes about the bulky, oversized watch. The campaign was a huge success, coming as it did on the heels of a renewed interest in wearing mechanical wristwatches. By the late 1980s, the Breitling wristwatch, with its large case and distinctive bezel, was a recognizable status symbol all over the world and widely copied by other companies, making the Breitling look even more fashionable.
Please note that this is an unofficial account of the history of Breitling Watches!
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