In 1966, chronographs were in high demand and so were automatic watches, but so far no had figured out how to put the two together. To crack the watchmaking challenge of its generation, Breitling teamed up with a few unlikely allies: rivals Breitling and Heuer Leonidas were the chronograph makers; Hamilton Buren, the specialist in micro-rotors; and Dubois-Depraz the expert in crafting complex modular movements. Under a shroud of secrecy, the collaborators initiated “Project 99,” entering the race to develop the automatic chronograph.

Their distinct skillsets proved a winning combination. On March 3, 1969, the partners released their automatic chronograph movement, the Caliber 11, at simultaneous press conferences in Geneva and New York.

The “Chrono-matic,” as it was from then on known, had an hour recorder at 9 o’clock, minute recorder at 3, a date window at 6, and the crown positioned distinctively on the left. Breitling, Heuer Leonidas, and Hamilton Buren were the first to bring automatic chronograph watches to market later that year, marking one of horology’s great achievements.