The Breitling company was established in 1884, deep in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland. Initially, their specialty was making chronographs and precision counters for scientific and industrial purposes. In 1892, the company relocated to La Chaux-de-fonds - the heart of Swiss watchmaking - and not long after emerged as an innovator in the nacent international watchmaking industry.
Notable Features:
As a leader in chronographic equipment and technology, it was natural that Breitling's eventual foray into watchmaking would become closely linked with the (then) developing aviation industry. Today, the company's timepieces are symbolic of navigation and adventure.
Among the company's special features:
* Gaston Breitling created the first wristwatch chronograph in 1915.
* Breitling developed the first independent chronograph pushpiece in 1923. (Previously, the start and return-to-zero functions had been controlled using the winding crown.)