They trust Breitling — you can, too!

When the B.O.A.C, United Airlines, KLM, Lockheed, and more put their faith in your equipment, you know you're doing something right.

Such was the case with Swiss watchmaker Breitling in the 1950s. Having turned its expertise in manufacturing dashboard instruments into classic tool watches such as the Unitimer, Navitimer, and Chronomat, it had the freedom to expand from its utilitarian roots into more elegant fare — fare such such as the calendar-equipped Reference 66.26 automatic calendar watch pictured in this mid-century ad from 1957. Ultimately, this versatility of design is what helped the brand thrive — and why it's still around today.

This ad is custom framed in a 12 5/8” x 15” natural wood frame with a brown finish. It features a custom-measured, hand-cut 4-ply matte in light blue, complimenting all the ad tones. Every material used is acid-free and the glass is anti-reflective and offers UV-protection to keep this precious ad preserved no matter where you decide to hang it up. Speaking of which, hanging your newly purchased ad is a seamless task, as this particular frame comes with an additional hanging wire and felt pads for wall protection.

All these years later, Breitling is still producing a wide range of tool and dress watches that perfectly complement the hard-working, jet-setting lifestyle of the modern man. Celebrate this legendary Swiss marque and its incredible watches with this stylish ad!

About our collaboration with Ad Patina

We're thrilled to be collaborating once again with our longtime friend Nick at Ad Patina to bring you a selection of the most-popular and hard to find original vintage magazine advertisements curated specifically for Analog:Shift!

Scouring the world for forgotten marketing treasures, Ad Patina's raison de être very much mimics our own - to hunt down these wonderful bits of history, preserve and restore them as needed, and share them with an enthusiastic community.

These documents of horological and advertising history have entered the collecting conversation as the ultimate accompanying accessory to go along with hobbies and passions. They have found themselves framed in homes and offices around the world.

Every one of these wonderful pieces is a genuine, vintage advertisement that has been professionally framed to ensure years of enjoyment to come - no reprints or reproductions here!

Much like a traditional piece of art - a painting or photograph - an original advertisement can be appreciated for its design as well as for its power to evoke nostalgia. Something vintage enthusiasts know all about!