{"product_id":"breitling-cornelis-van-houte-9798196544781","title":"Breitling: A History of the Chronograph","description":"\"A chronograph is a watch that does something.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFrom the high-stakes world of 19th-century scientific measurement to the wrist of an astronaut orbiting the Earth, the Breitling story is a masterclass in durability, innovation, and survival. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn this meticulously researched volume, historian Cornelis van Houte explores the four management generations that shaped the \"Instrument for Professionals\". You will discover: \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Pioneers: How Léon Breitling's early patents for vertical-clutch chronographs and crown-integrated pushers laid the foundation for the modern wristwatch.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Icons: The untold stories behind the 1942 Chronomat, the 1952 Navitimer, and the custom-built Cosmonaute worn by Scott Carpenter during the 1962 \u003ci\u003eAurora 7\u003c\/i\u003e mission.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Survival: An unvarnished look at the 1970s quartz crisis that nearly ended the firm and the bold 1979 rescue by Ernest Schneider that reinvented the brand for the jet age.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Future: Inside the \"House of Brands\" era under Georges Kern, from the return to in-house movements like the Caliber B01 to the 2026 global expansion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003eWhether you are a seasoned collector of vintage Navitimers or a watch enthusiast fascinated by the intersection of aviation and engineering, this book provides the deep technical analysis, cultural history, and biographical detail that the Breitling legacy deserves. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIncludes detailed appendices featuring movement specifications, an aviation horology glossary, and a historian's ranking of the most significant Breitling watches ever made.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Cornelis Van Houte\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798196544781\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/11\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 284\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.09lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 10.00h x 7.00w x 0.60d","brand":"Cornelis Van Houte","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48852878557439,"sku":"9798196544781","price":26.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/breitling-cornelis-van-houte-9798196544781","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}