In the early 1940s, Breitling gained fame by supplying precision aviation instruments to the Allies through its Huit Aviation department. But as the end of the war approached, Willy Breitling saw an increasing demand for chronographs that represented elegance and optimism. His response was the Premier collection, introduced in 1943. Named after the French word for "first," it set a new standard in watchmaking. The collection took the functional chronograph out of the cockpit and into society, with the finest materials, calibers, and designs. Today, the Premier collection continues this legacy, blending timeless style with modern craftsmanship.