BREITLING

"A chronograph is a watch that does something."

From the high-stakes world of 19th-century scientific measurement to the wrist of an astronaut orbiting the Earth, the Breitling story is a masterclass in durability, innovation, and survival.

In this meticulously researched volume, historian Cornelis van Houte explores the four management generations that shaped the "Instrument for Professionals". You will discover:

• The Pioneers: How Léon Breitling's early patents for vertical-clutch chronographs and crown-integrated pushers laid the foundation for the modern wristwatch.
• The Icons: The untold stories behind the 1942 Chronomat, the 1952 Navitimer, and the custom-built Cosmonaute worn by Scott Carpenter during the 1962 Aurora 7 mission.
• The Survival: An unvarnished look at the 1970s quartz crisis that nearly ended the firm and the bold 1979 rescue by Ernest Schneider that reinvented the brand for the jet age.
• The Future: Inside the "House of Brands" era under Georges Kern, from the return to in-house movements like the Caliber B01 to the 2026 global expansion.