Breitling. At the early age of 20, Léon Breitling was already a watchmaker of great talent. He established a workshop in 1884, produced a chronograph in his name, and continued developing his interest for watches with complications. In 1892, he moved to Chaux-de-Fonds where he died in 1914. The company came into the hands of his son Gaston and later his grandson Willy. Since both had a passion for aeronautics, several navigational instruments were produced by the company. Breitling has long reflected this interest in its productions, being closely involved with various sporting events. In 1970, a new impetus was given to the company by the industrialist Ernest Schneider, a pilot and specialist in electronics, who also enjoyed sailing. Together with seaman Eric Tabarly, he launched a series of watches for skippers and divers. Among the most striking designs was the Navitimer presented in Basel in 1992, in a more compact version using a chronograph module of 26,20 mm. In 1999, the company sponsored the launching of a balloon in an attempt at making the first round-the-world balloon trip. Breitling, along with Bertrand Piccard, grandson of Auguste Piccard, a renowned Swiss physicist, were responsible for the technical and electronical management of this feat. The balloon took off from the Swiss alpine village of Château-d'Oex on March 1, 1999, and landed on March 21 in the Egyptian desert, in the first successful non-stop world tour by balloon. Historically, Breitling has had more ties to the aviation industry than any other watch company.The celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the first flight by the brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright, was an important event for which many countries issued commorative postal stamps, countless air shows were held, as were many other events commemorating that achievement. Breitling's idea of adapting modern technology to 100-year old ebauches resulted in the present spectacular and unique set of watches.