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There are a few moments in history where time stood still; moments where the world had to take notice. Here are a few esteemed watch brands that changed the way time will be perceived forever.
Breitling – For the conquest of discovering the skies. Pilots need reliable and efficient instruments. Breitling is synonymous with perfecting the chronograph – a vital instrument for all pilots. Their one “specialty” was their onboard chronographs intended for aircraft cockpits. This earned them the title of “the official supplier to world aviation”. A leader in the field of mechanical chronographs, Breitling is also in the forefront of electronics in watchmaking. They again made history with the development of their Emergency watch – the world’s first wristwatch equipped with an authentic integrated dual frequency personal locator beacon.
Tag Heuer – Tag Heuer is known for their obsession with the ultimate precision. In 1887, they developed the oscillating pinion that vastly improved the timekeeping accuracy of watches and changed the watchmaking industry forever. In 1916, they again showcased their passion for precision and launched the world’s first stopwatch accurate to 1/100th of a second. All of its counterparts at the time only reached an accuracy of 1/5th of a second.
Mont Blanc – In 1821, they developed the first ever chronograph. Mont Blanc’s philosophy from the very beginning has been to combine all of the historic traditions of the art of Swiss watchmaking with the latest technology.
Longines – This brand pioneered the world in mechanised production. In 1919 they are named the official supplier of the International Aeronautical Federation with their instuments created, ideal for exploration. In 1979, it creates the world’s most slender quartz watch, which involved a lot of new technogolgy being used and paved the way for many future advances.
Frederick Constant – A Frédérique Constant is not just a luxurious timepiece. Behind it is an extensive creative process that involves an inspired design, smart development and unparalleled attention to detail. Frederique Constant is also known for their delicate rounded cases that require many hours of hand polishing. In 1994, Frédérique Constant developed its first Heart Beat watch. The purpose of the Heart Beat development was to show the mechanical nature of their watches. Heart Beat watches has an aperture (small opening) at the position of the balance wheel to show that the movement of the watch is mechanical.
Tissot – Tissot introduced the first mass-produced pocket watch as well as the first pocket watch with two time zones as well as the first anti-magnetic watch in 1929–30. The Tissot company was also the first to make watches out of plastic, stone, mother of pearl and wood. This revolutionized what looks one was able to achieve with watches. Tissot is an official timekeeper for the world championships in cycling, motorcycling, fencing and ice hockey, and was used for the Davis Cup in 1957 and Downhill Skiing in Switzerland in 1938.
Citizen – Citizen is synonymous with the eco-drive movement. It starts with a simple, yet revolutionary concept: a watch that never needs a battery. Citizen Eco-Drive technology harnesses the power of light-from any natural or artificial light source-and converts it into energy.Citizen is recognized as a worldwide leader in advanced technology. From the world’s slimmest LCD watch, to the world’s first professional dive watch with an electronic depth sensor, to the first voice recognition watch, Citizen’s record of world’s first is unmatched.
Although all of these timepieces are legendary for various reasons, owning one of these masterpieces would make you a legend.