Breitling entered the elite circle of watch movement manufacturers at this year's Basel fair by unveiling its first movement entirely developed and made in-house.
The movement, which was the culmination of a long-running quest for performance, finds its new home in the Chronomat B01.
The brand's role in the history of the chronograph is well documented. The founder's son, Gaston Breitling, came up with the idea of creating a push-piece for the start, stop and reset functions. The watchmaker continued to improve the push-piece function with the creation of separate buttons for different functions. Forty years ago, Breitling launched its first self-winding chronograph movement.
The B01 calibre marks another milestone in Breitling's history. Functions of the calibre include a 70-hour power reserve and instant date-change calendar. It also has a device for resetting hammers, which eliminates the need for a correction by a watchmaker.
Breitling adapted hi-tech concepts used in other industries to assemble the movement: each calibre is placed in a 'shuttle', monitored by a computer and automatically directed to the next appropriate work station - both automated stations and those which require manual work. By the end of the assembly line, the movement is ready for COSC testing.
Breitling used sturdiness, water tightness and shock resistance as its quality markers for the watch, which was designed to withstand the extreme traction that occurs in diving and flying. The case - in steel or gold - underwent a lengthy cold-stamping process under high pressure to add to its robust consistency. Corrosion-resistant alloys were used for steel components, while the crown, push-pieces and screwed-in backs give the watch water resistance to 500 metres. Oversized hands and hour-markers with luminescent coating ensure optimal readability.