Léon Breitling, the son of German parents who, looking for work, migrated to Switzerland, was already fascinated by the idea of short-term measurement during his watchmaking apprenticeship. At the age of only 24 years, in 1884 he manufactures the first counter chronograph on his own in Saint-Imier. The founding of the Breitling brand is accordingly dated to this year. In 1892, Breitling moved to the watchmaker town La Chaux-de-Fonds. Here, in the newly built production facility G. Léon Breitling S.A., Montbrillant Watch Manufactory one specializes first on pocket chronographs.