1994 - Ernest Schneider officially turned the business over to his son, ushering in a fifth-generation of leadership at Breitling. Théodore Schneider had already been with the company for several years and led a small, not very “hierarchical” team in comparison to other large watch companies of the day. His corporate structure allowed for efficiency, performance and quick decision-making that would prove crucial in the years to come.
1995 - The Emergency was the first wristwatch to be equipped with an integrated emergency transmitter. It was initially launched in 1988 with a single antenna but truly came into its own in 1995 with the introduction of an ingenious patented antenna deployment system. The model’s micro-transmitter, which was locked onto the international air distress frequency, was equipped with two antennas and had a 48-hour independent power reserve. To develop this technology, Breitling worked closely with Dassault Electronique, the specialized division of the famous French aircraft manufacturer.
1999 - Breitling ended the millennium having with an achievement that began in 1992 when aerostat pilot Bertrand Piccard of Switzerland won the Chrysler Transatlantic Challenge with the brand’s support. Encouraged by this success, Piccard embarked on one of aviation’s last great challenges: a nonstop flight around the world in a hot air balloon.On March 1, 1999, at 08:05 GMT, the Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon lifted off from Château-d’Oex in the Swiss Alps. Aboard were Piccard and Englishman Brian Jones, each wearing an Emergency watch on his wrist. On March 20th, at 09:54 GMT, the Breitling Orbiter 3 crossed its starting meridian in the skies over Mauritania. Breitling’s name had once again made aviation history.
1999-100% (Chronometer)
In 1999, Théodore Schneider set a goal for the company: to have all its movements designated as certified chronometers.At first, the idea seemed unrealistic and utopian. Certified chronometers required extreme precision. The brands that were offering it did so primarily as an added value on specialty pieces. Having all Breitling’s movements certified would mean a rethink of the entire process, from component selection through all stages of assembly to final inspection.Still, Schneider was not deterred from his 100% certified-chronometer goal. To guarantee total mastery of quality, the company decided to “verticalize” the assembly of its mechanical movements, integrating it all under one roof – Breitling’s.
In 2000, the Breitling Orbiter 3’s capsule became part of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., the world’s most prestigious aviation museum. The capsule was placed in the Milestones of Flight exhibit containing other honorary machines that conquered the skies such as the Wright brothers’ plane, Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, Chuck Yeager’s X-1 and the Apollo 11 capsule.
