In 2024, Breitling celebrated 140 years of innovation and tradition. Luxus Magazine has therefore dedicated the new Success Story section of its Spring 2025 print edition to the famous Swiss watchmaker founded in 1884 in Saint-Imier. In addition to CEO Georges Kern, we were able to interview Gianfranco Gentile, Head of Heritage at Breitling, in an exclusive interview that we are pleased to share with you here.
Gianfranco Gentile joined Breitling in 2023 and is Global Head of Heritage for Breitling and Universal Genève. He coordinates all activities related to the archives of the two watchmaking houses and is responsible for the development and installation of the Breitling Museum in Zurich and the curation of the Breitling 140th anniversary traveling exhibition.
This guardian of Breitling’s time and history reveals how to showcase the legacy of a company that is inextricably linked to the spirit of adventure and the first aviators. Interview.
Luxus Magazine: Breitling celebrated its 140th anniversary in 2024. How would you define its pioneering vision?
Gianfranco Gentile: Breitling’s pioneering spirit is deeply rooted in our history of innovation and precision watchmaking. We invented the modern chronograph, equipped the first pilot’s watch with a flight computer integrated into a circular slide rule, sent the first Swiss wristwatch into space, and created the first diving chronograph. We co-developed the first automatic chronograph movement, we were the first to miniaturize the international distress signal and place it in a watch, and we were the first to have our movements certified 100% by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute). Today, we continue to innovate with the first watch with a documented and fully traceable supply chain and with our range of in-house movements designed and assembled at Breitling Chronometer Services.
Luxus Magazine: In your opinion, what are the most iconic models in Breitling’s history?
Gianfranco Gentile: I would say the Navitimer Cosmonaute ref. 809, which has a 24-hour dial and was on Scott Carpenter’s wrist when he orbited the Earth aboard NASA’s Aurora 7 capsule in 1962. It was the first Swiss wristwatch to be sent into space.
Luxus Magazine: How does a heritage brand like Breitling bring its archives to life?
Gianfranco Gentile: Part of my job is to promote the brand’s culture to the whole company, both online and offline, as well as supporting researchers, fueling their passion, and gathering new unique watches for our heritage collection. Beyond our pop-up museum, we have other simultaneous activities to mark our 140th anniversary, such as the international traveling exhibition Time Capsule and the book Breitling: 140 Years in 140 Stories, published by Rizzoli.
Read the full Success Story “Breitling, in the Era of Performance ”, including an exclusive interview with the CEO of the watchmaker Georges Kern and a special feature on watch and jewelry trends… among other fascinating business and lifestyle topics in issue No. 10 of Luxus Magazine (Spring 2025).
Read also > Breitling on the cover of Luxus Magazine’s spring print edition
Interview firstly published in Luxus Magazine N°10, conducted and transcribed by Anthony Conan
Web adaptation (additional main head and introductory note) by Victor Gosselin
Featured photo: © Breitling
