It was 1884 and innovation was a worldwide phenomenon. Everyone, it seemed, was creating and inventing products that would change the world. Industry, science, and sport were all progressing at a furious pace. Observing this, Swiss watchmaker Léon Breitling became obsessed with aviation. He watched as the Wright brothers took to the skies and he knew the world would need more precise and accurate timing methods.
Source: aopaEye on the sky