Breitling Folk Art
Swiss
For pilots and others in love with flight, no brand is more closely associated with the world of aviation than Breitling. From the beginning, watchmaker Léon Breitling, who opened his shop in the Swiss Jura Mountains in 1884, was focused on chronographs and their uses in the burgeoning fields of sports, science and industry.
After Léon’s death, in 1914, his son Gaston continued along his father’s trajectory. An early fan of aeronautics, Gaston introduced one of the first wrist-worn chronographs, a welcome upgrade for pilots used to executing complex maneuvers while juggling a pocket watch.
In 1934, Gaston’s son Willy made another leap in the chronograph’s evolution, patenting the first wristwatch with two pushers — one to start and stop elapsed time and one to reset — a feature now taken for granted.
But perhaps the most significant development under Willy’s leadership was the Chronomat watch. Introduced in 1942, it featured a patented rotating slide-rule bezel for making calculations on the fly. This innovation led to the 1952 creation of the brand’s signature timepiece: the Breitling Navitimer.
Designed in partnership with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, it was adopted as the official watch of the AOPA in 1959 and remains the world’s most iconic pilot’s watch. Not content to rule just the air, Breitling developed dive watches as well, including the Superocean, released in 1957, and the Transocean, which followed in 1958. The house also took its show on the road, producing dashboard clocks and then watches in partnership with luxury automaker Bentley.
The Navitimer, however, still reigns supreme among pilots everywhere. Given the stature earned by Top Gun since its release — as well as the excitement around Top Gun: Maverick — it's never too late to pick up a vintage Breitling Top Gun Navitimer, displaying the official logo of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, for yourself or your favorite wingman.
Find a range of Breitling watches on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Breitling
Breitling Retail Store Display Advertising Sign
By Breitling
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce vintage Breitling watch three-dimensional retail store advertising display stand window sign.
Rare large free-standing example, only given to select dealers, featuring a tall rectangular solid wood frame, raised chrome Breitling letters, over a yellow jet plane in sculptural relief form, on a most distinctive artistically distressed background; the reverse finished with a flueele fabric and adorned with the Breitling 1884 logo; rising on metal feet.
Dimensions: (approx)
29.5" High, 24.5" Wide, 5.5" Deep
Condition Report:
Great original unrestored vintage condition. Presents well. Some condition issues/retaining vintage character marks and charm, including scattered nicks, mainly to the front top right frame, minor scuffs to the letters, scratches, slight bend to left foot pad, all typical wear consistent with age and indicative of industrial use.
At the time of writing this, we also have some other luxury watch store signage / merchandising displays, including Rolex, Panerai, Cartier, antique clock...
Category
Late 20th Century Industrial Breitling Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Chrome
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Breitling folk art for sale on 1stDibs.
Breitling folk art are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. Prices for Breitling folk art can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,995 and can go as high as $1,995, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,995.
Questions About Breitling Folk Art
- Does Bentley make Breitling?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, Bentley does not make Breitling watches. However, the luxury automaker has collaborated with the Swiss watchmaker to produce timepieces in the past. You can find a range of Breitling watches from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023Breitling watches are so special due to their precise timekeeping, and this precision is why no brand is more closely associated with the world of aviation than Breitling. Since the founding of the watchmaker in 1884, Breitling has developed innovations to make its watches more accurate and easy for pilots to use. An example is the Chronomat watch. Introduced in 1942, it featured a patented rotating slide-rule bezel for making calculations on the fly. This innovation led to the 1952 creation of the brand’s signature timepiece: the Breitling Navitimer. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association adopted the Navitimer as its official watch in 1959, and it remains the world’s most iconic pilot’s watch to this day. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Breitling watches.
- Is Breitling better than Rolex?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertDecember 17, 2024No, Breitling isn’t better than Rolex. These two luxury watch brands are universally heralded for all the distinctive timepieces they’ve brought to market. No watch brand is perhaps more closely associated with the world of aviation than Breitling. From the beginning, watchmaker Léon Breitling, who opened his shop in the Swiss Jura Mountains in 1884, was focused on chronographs and their uses in the burgeoning fields of sports, science and industry. Rolex also has an unwavering commitment to precision timekeeping and innovation. The maker is arguably best known for its achievements in the design of diver's watches and for introducing the world's first waterproof timepiece. When shopping for a watch, you should think about what you’re looking for in this type of accessory. You may wish to consider the power reserve, materials, accuracy, craftsmanship, where it was manufactured and more. If it’s your first watch, you may wish to consider whether or not you’d prefer a pre-owned model. Buying a new, never-worn watch enables you to build a history with it that isn’t shared by anyone else, but the greatest advantage to buying a pre-owned watch is that it opens up a wider range of models to consider, including rare ones that have been discontinued. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of watches.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023No, Breitling doesn’t use natural diamonds in their watches as of the fall of 2022. At that time, the luxury watchmaker switched from gemstones sourced from nature to artisanal laboratory-made diamonds. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Breitling watches from some of the world’s top sellers.
- Is Breitling Colt a good watch?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Breitling's streamlined and minimalistic Colt watch is a good watch for everyday. Though it's not considered a luxury watch, it is a great option for anyone interested in a functional sports watch.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2024Yes, some Breitling watches are worth something. Some of the most highly sought-after and most valuable timepieces produced by the watchmaker include the Breitling Professional Emergency Mission II Titanium, the Breitling Navitimer Chronograph 43 Red Gold, the Breitling Premier B21 Chronograph Tourbillon 42 Willy and the Breitling for Bentley Flying B. Generally, the age, style, materials, condition and other factors contribute to the potential value of Breitling timepieces. To find out how much your watch may be worth, consult a certified appraiser or other knowledgeable expert. Shop a range of Breitling watches on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2024Yes, many watch lovers believe that Breitling watches are worth the money. For pilots and others in love with flight, no brand is more closely associated with the world of aviation than Breitling. From the beginning, watchmaker Léon Breitling, who opened his shop in the Swiss Jura Mountains in 1884, was focused on chronographs and their uses in the burgeoning fields of sports, science and industry. However, whether or not it’s worth investing in Breitling watches is totally subjective! At 1stDibs, we believe in buying what you love. Our shopping experience enables discovery and learning, whether you are a seasoned connoisseur or just beginning your collection. Find Breitling watches and other watches on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Yes, many people consider Breitling watches to be luxury. Breitling is associated with quality workmanship and luxe materials all over the world, and the price of its timepieces at retail reflect that reputation. From the beginning, watchmaker Léon Breitling, who opened his shop in the Swiss Jura Mountains in 1884, was focused on chronographs and their uses in the burgeoning fields of sports, science and industry. Shop a collection of Breitling watches from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 24, 2021As the name suggests, the Breitling Emergency watch has an integrated antenna system and is used in emergency situations. When the beacon is activated, the watch broadcasts a distress signal of approximately 100 miles and remains operational for 48 hours unless turned off. Find a wide range of vintage Breitling watches on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, anyone can buy Breitling’s Emergency watch. This watch is one of Brietling’s masterpieces and includes an internal locator beacon which can send a distress signal to local emergency services. Shop a collection of properly vetted Breitling watches from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.