In celebration of its 140th anniversary Swiss watchmaker Breitling has unveiled special editions of its three flagship models, the Premier, the Navitimer, and the Chronomat. The new Pop-Up-Museum shows the story of Breitling beginnings from Léon Breitling’s modest workshop in Saint-Imier to the emergence as one of the most important watch brands of the 21st century.
As automobiles became the preferred mode of transportation, Léon Breitling patented a pocket-watch tachymeter. A precursor to the vehicle speedometer, his easy-to-read speed scale slowed the seconds hand down to make one revolution around the dial in four minutes, allowing the user to measure any speed between 15 and 150 km/h.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Breitling’s wide range of top-notch chronographs and timers set the benchmark for the industry. Breitling timepieces were coveted by sports enthusiasts, athletes and aviation pioneers. He never stopped reimagining and optimizing his watches. In both his professional and personal life, he created numerous patents, some of which are still relevant today.
In 1995, Breitling comes up with what will soon become the ultimate wrist-worn rescue instrument for any adventurer: The Emergency. It has been largely tested by various search and rescue organizations and armed forces. In 1997, it saves the lives of thirteen crew members from the “Mata-Rangi” a reed boat that had sailed for Australia from Easter Island and was blown off course by a storm to a location 1800 mile off the coast of Chile.
In 1999, the Breitling Emergency completes the first-ever non-stop round-the-world balloon flight on the wrists of Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones aboard the Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon. This amazing journey starts on Monday March 1st, 1999, when the Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon lifts off from Château-d’Oex in the Swiss Alps, taking advantage of the perfect “weather window”.
