Breitling — Montbrillant History (Timeline)

Part 1

• 1884 — Léon Breitling founds his brand and opens his workshop in Saint-Imier.
• 1889 — Files his first patent for a “simplified chronograph-counter with a single wheel with standard toothing.”
• 1891 — Files a patent for an “observation chronograph-counter,” intended for sports or scientific use.
• 1893 — Patent for a watch with an 8-day power reserve.
• 1892 — Moves to his hometown La Chaux-de-Fonds and registers the Montbrillant Watch Factory name, taken from the street where he sets up.
• 1906 — 100,000 chronographs and counters sold since the company’s founding.
• Aug 1914 — Léon Breitling dies; his son Gaston takes over.
• 1915 — A new era: the first wrist chronograph with a pusher at 2 o’clock.
• 1915 (update) — The pusher at 2 o’clock is used only to start/stop; reset by pulling the crown. A safety system prevents resetting while the chronograph is running.

Part 2

• Jul 1927 — Gaston Breitling dies. His son Willy (born 1913) is too young to lead; managers are appointed.
• 1928 — Marcel Robert joins. He devises a small cap inside the movement containing spare parts for servicing; he likely also inspires the dashboard chronographs for cars and aircraft (launched 1931).
• 1932 — On the advice of Léon’s second wife, Willy Breitling takes the helm. At 19, he knows the business little but is a natural salesman and protects the brand from over-eager managers.
• 1934 — Launch of the two-pusher wrist chronograph, replacing reset via the crown pusher.
• 1930s — Breitling times various sporting events in Switzerland; sales expand to the United States thanks to Willy’s trips.
• Movements — Breitling sources ébauches from top suppliers: Hahn-Landeron, Venus, Valjoux.
• 1938 — Creation of Breitling HUIT Aviation, a department dedicated to aviation chronographs and counters, alluding to eight-day power reserves.
• Late 1941 — Launch of the Chronomat, heavily advertised. Distinctive circular slide rule with two logarithmic scales (one on the rotating bezel) enabling tachymeter, telemeter, pulsometer, and basic calculations; powered by Venus 175.
• 1944 — Release of the Duograph (split-seconds), then the Datora with full calendar.
• 1947 — Registration of the Bremon brand (“Breitling Montres”) for simpler men’s and women’s watches; creation of the Breitling Watch Corporation of America with U.S. distributor Wakmann.