Breitling
- Founded
- 1884
- Based in
- Grenchen, Switzerland
- In our catalog
- 13 watches from $3,550 to $10,200
Breitling built its name on chronographs and on aviation, and the Navitimer, with its busy slide-rule bezel, is still one of the most recognizable pilot's watches ever made. In the last few years the brand has softened its image, moving away from oversized watches toward a warmer, more vintage-inspired style and a broader range of sizes.
History
Léon Breitling opened his workshop in Saint-Imier in 1884, specializing in chronographs and precision counters. The company moved to Grenchen, and his son Gaston introduced one of the first chronographs with a separate start-stop pusher in 1915. In 1934 his grandson Willy added a second pusher for reset, creating the two-pusher layout almost every chronograph still uses.
Breitling made cockpit instruments and watches for aviators, and in 1952 launched the Navitimer, whose circular slide rule let pilots work out fuel, speed and distance on the wrist. It became the official watch of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. In 1969 Breitling was one of the companies behind the first automatic chronograph movements.
The quartz crisis brought the family era to an end, and in 1979 pilot and watch entrepreneur Ernest Schneider bought the brand. He relaunched the Chronomat in 1984 and made every Breitling a certified chronometer. In 2017 the private equity firm CVC bought a majority stake and Georges Kern, formerly of IWC, became CEO. He reorganized the collections and leaned into vintage designs.
Signature models
- Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41: The modern Navitimer with its slide-rule bezel and the in-house B01 chronograph movement.
- Chronomat B01 42: An all-purpose sports chronograph with the distinctive "rouleaux" bracelet and rider tabs on the bezel.
- Superocean Heritage B20: A vintage-styled diver based on the 1957 Superocean.
- Top Time B01: A playful revival of a 1960s chronograph aimed at younger buyers.
- Navitimer Automatic 38: The Navitimer look without the chronograph, in a size that suits more wrists.
- Endurance Pro 44: A lightweight quartz chronograph in Breitlight, a material lighter than titanium.
What it's known for
Breitling was the first major brand to have its whole range certified by COSC. The in-house B01 chronograph caliber, introduced in 2009, offers a 70-hour power reserve and a column wheel. The designs are dense with information, which some people love and others find busy.
Price and positioning
Breitling sits alongside Omega and TAG Heuer's upper range. Three-hand models start around $4,000, and B01 chronographs cost $8,000 to $10,000. Pre-owned prices tend to fall further than Rolex or Omega, so used Breitlings are good value.
Breitling watches in our library
- Breitling Endurance Pro 44 ($3,550 to $3,800)
- Breitling Superocean Automatic 42 ($4,750 to $5,250)
- Breitling Navitimer Automatic 35 ($4,950 to $5,400)
- Breitling Navitimer Automatic 38 ($5,050 to $5,600)
- Breitling Superocean Heritage B20 ($5,150 to $5,800)
- Breitling Aerospace B70 Evo ($5,250 to $5,550)
- Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 44 ($5,550 to $5,950)
- Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 ($5,650 to $6,200)
- Breitling Top Time B01 ($8,050 to $8,500)
- Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 ($8,450 to $9,100)
- Breitling Chronomat B01 42 ($8,850 to $9,450)
- Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41 ($9,050 to $9,800)
- Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46 ($9,450 to $10,200)
Vintage Breitling watches
- Breitling Navitimer 806 (pre-owned, $6,000 to $12,000)