BREITLING

If you’ve been in an airport, you’ve probably seen advertisements for Breitling watches, and if you are a pilot, you’ve no doubt worn one or two yourself. Founded in 1884 by Léon Breitling, the Swiss company was an early believer in producing timekeepers, especially chronographs, for various sports as well as for the emerging travel modes of automobiles and airplanes. It was aviation that Breitling would primarily embrace, and which influenced the creation of its two most storied watches, the Chronomat and the Navitimer. (The innovative slide rule bezel, which allowed pilots to make quick calculations on their wrist, debuted on the former but would become the calling card of the latter.) Willy Breitling, heir of Léon, made Breitling the favored watch of pilots and jet-set travelers with a clever and aggressive ad campaign and that identity has persisted, despite the fact that Breitling has in recent years expanded the scope of its appeal with more emphasis on its Superocean divers’ watch and the revival of its dressy sport chronograph, the Premier. Breitling has also revamped and expanded the size offerings in both its Navitimer and Chronomat collections, demonstrating a continued commitment to the aviation classics that put the brand on the pop culture map.

Founded: 1884

Headquarters: Grenchen, Switzerland

Ownership: Partners Group SA

Notable models: Navitimer, Chronomat, Superocean, Emergency

Did you know: Astronaut Scott Carpenter, who wore a Breitling Navitimer on a mission for the Mercury program, approached Breitling with the idea of making a Navitimer with a 24-hour dial that was more useful in space. Breitling continues to make this model, which it named the Navitimer Cosmonaute.