The life of the Breitling Chronomat began in 1940 with the application for a Swiss government patent for an innovative circular slide rule to be used in conjunction with a wrist chronograph. The first Chronomats were then manufactured and sold in 1941/42. Later, in the 1950′s, the outstanding success of the Chronomat inspired the birth of the Navitimer, a chronograph with its slide rule modelled after the E6B circular slide rule used by pilots.
The Chronomat went on to be produced in many forms including a version of the first-ever automatic chronograph watch in the late 1960′s and even a quartz non-chronograph during the 1970′s.
In 1978 all watch production ceased at Breitling. The company was put up for sale and bought by Mr Ernest Schneider in 1979. From 1980 new Breitling models began to be released but it was not until 1984 that the Chronomat reappeared – as a completely different watch, now designed for pilots. This was the forerunner of all modern Chronomats up to the present day.
The Chronomat has remained one of Breitling’s most successful watches for over sixty years and has in recent years proved to be Breitling’s biggest selling men’s watch.
(Note: during the 1980′s Breitling model references were written in a variety of ways; the Chronomat was referred to as ref 81950, 81 950 or 81.950. For convenience the form 81950 will be used in this article).
Chronomat ref 81950 – 1984 to 1990
Athough the advent of electronic watches played a large part in the demise of many Swiss watch firms including the old Breitling company, by the early to mid-1980′s it is becoming apparent that there is a growing market again for mechanical watches. Many owners do not want LED, LCD or quartz watches which in their eyes lack the appeal and technical attraction of watches with a traditional movement. They prefer mechanical movements and are prepared to pay a premium for them. While continuing their strong presence in the evolution of quartz watches, Breitling have also begun developing innovative mechanical models one of which is an automatic pilot’s men’s watch, completely new in design in every aspect. The now famous “rider tab” was invented by the head of the company in 1982 and he also made the decision to use the mechanical Valjoux 7750 movement for the first time by Breitling. Both of these features are still in use today in many Breitlings although the movement has undergone enormous improvements since then. However the rider tab design is just as penned by Mr Schneider all those years ago.