Last week, we introduced the first Breitling collection released since the brand was acquired by CVC Capital Partners and erstwhile Richemont executive Georges Kern took over as CEO. It’s received plenty of positive and negative commentary from horological pundits, but what has been missed in all the conversation is the reference to Breitling’s aviation history found inside the heart of the Navitimer 8 lineup. While the first Navitimer ? a portmanteau of navigation and timer ? only made its debut in 1952, this new collection draws on a specific chapter of Breitling’s 134-year old history that solidified the company as an aviation pioneer in the run-up to World War II. Here are five things you need to know about the Breitling Huit Aviation Department. Willy Breitling led the independent brand for 47 years (1932-1979).
1.) When Willy Breitling, then only 19 years old, assumed control of the company his grandfather founded, he was in a good position. Chronographs were a major source of revenue for the brand and with over 40 different models available, Breitling wasn’t shy about embracing that fact. It’s worth noting that, at the time, chronographs only had a single pusher, so after starting and stopping the timer, you had to reset it. Willy knew this was an inefficient approach, so he developed the world’s first two-pusher chronograph and filed a patent for it 1934. Two years later, he introduced a chronograph specially made for aviator...