In 1884, Léon Breitling opened an atelier in St.Imier, where he concentrated exclusively on the manufacture of industrial counters and devices for measuring brief intervals of time.
Within a few years time, his specialties had become so popular that he decided to move his operation to La Chaux-de-Fonds, where the enterprise employed 60 co-workers and did business under the name DG. Léon Breitling S.A. Montbrillant Watch Manufactory-94.
Léons son Gaston followed in his fathers footsteps: in 1915, he developed the first wristwatch chronograph with a centrally axial chronograph-hand and 30-minute counter. This watch was virtually predestined to accompany the pioneering pilots in the early years of aviation. Breitling patented the invention of the independent chronograph push-piece in 1923, followed by a patent on its tenth-of-a-second counter in 1926.
Willy Breitling, grandson of the firms founder, gave the definitive appearance to the wristwatch chronograph in 1934 with his invention of a second push-piece to trigger the return-to-zero function. This innovation made it possible to individually measure several sequential intervals of time, while the total elapsed time was being measured by the hand that had been triggered by the first push-piece.
In collaboration with Büren and Heuer-Leonidas, Breitling invented the automatic chronograph movement in 1969. This masterful technical achievement embodied a decisive advancement for the entire Swiss watchmaking industry. Aviator, watch manufacturer, and microelectronics specialist Ernst Schneider took over the Breitling brand in 1979 and piloted it to new heights in ensuing years.
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