The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi,

I am trying to find out more about the history about Breitling, especially the first years.

Léon Breitling opened a watch studio in 1884 and founded the brand name "G. Léon Breitling".

Well, for what stands this "G." in this name????? His son Gaston wasn't even an idea - he can't thought of his son while choosing that brand name.

Does he had a second name?


Puzzled, Andreas

History of Breitling: Abbreviated version...

1884: In St-Imier, in the Jura mountains of Switzerland, Leon Breitling opens a workshop specializing in the making chronograph pocket watches and precision counters for scientific and industrial purposes.

1892: Leon Breitling relocates in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the center of Swiss watchmaking of the day.

1914: Leon Breitling dies. His son Gaston Breitling takes over the company.

1915: During WWI, Recognizing rapid advancements in aviation and the need for a precision timepiece for that purpose, Gaston introduces the first wrist-watch chronograph providing pilots with the first Breitling wristwatch.

1923: Breitling develops the first independant chronograph pushpiece. Start and return-to-zero functions had previously been controlled using the winding-crown.

1932: Gaston's son, Willy Breitling, takes over for his father as the head of the company.

1934: Breitling develops a watch with a second return-to-zero pushpiece. This invention, made it possible to measure several successive short times with an added function using the first pushpiece, and gives the wrist chronograph its difinitive form.

1936: Breitling becomes the official supplier to the Royal Air Force. This difinatively marks the start of its longstanding ties to aviation.

1942: Breitling launches the Chronomat, the first chronograph to be fitted with a circular slide rule. In parallel, the company broadens its professional clientele to include the American armed forces.

1952: Breitling creates the Navitimer, a wrist instrument equipped with the famous "navigation computer" capable of handling all calculations called for by a flight plan. This "super" chronograph quickly becomes a favorite among pilots around the world.

1962: Astronaut Scott Carpenter wears the Cosmonaute chronograph during his orbital flight aboard the Aurora 7 space capsule.

1969: Breitling introduces the self-winding chronograph. This technical feat represents a major breakthrough for the entire Swiss watch industry.

1979: Ernest Schneider - a pilot and watch manufacturer takes over as the head of Breitling.

Present: The company continues to produce timepieces of the highest quality in the world.

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BC

thanks, but that did not answer my question...


Andreas

Oh, and does anybody know, when Gaston Breitling (second owner of the Breitling SA) was born???

Everywhere I look I find only the date of his death.


Regards, Andreas