Overview

""A chronograph is a watch that does something."" From the high-stakes world of 19th-century scientific measurement to the wrist of an astronaut orbiting the Earth, the Breitling story is a masterclass in durability, innovation, and survival. In this meticulously researched volume, historian Cornelis van Houte explores the four management generations that shaped the ""Instrument for Professionals"". You will discover: The Pioneers: How Léon Breitling's early patents for vertical-clutch chronographs and crown-integrated pushers laid the foundation for the modern wristwatch. The Icons: The untold stories behind the 1942 Chronomat, the 1952 Navitimer, and the custom-built Cosmonaute worn by Scott Carpenter during the 1962 Aurora 7 mission. The Survival: An unvarnished look at the 1970s quartz crisis that nearly ended the firm and the bold 1979 rescue by Ernest Schneider that reinvented the brand for the jet age. The Future: Inside the ""House of Brands"" era under Georges Kern, from the return to in-house movements like the Caliber B01 to the 2026 global expansion. Whether you are a seasoned collector of vintage Navitimers or a watch enthusiast fascinated by the intersection of aviation and engineering, this book provides the deep technical analysis, cultural history, and biographical detail that the Breitling legacy deserves. Includes detailed appendices featuring movement specifications, an aviation horology glossary, and a historian's ranking of the most significant Breitling watches ever made.

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