Breitling’s enthusiasm for adventure is deeply rooted in the company’s culture. When Willy Breitling agreed to make cockpit instruments for Britain’s Royal Air Force during World War II, he found himself in a world of peril and intrigue, smuggling his products out of neutral Switzerland to the Allies.

In an operation code-named “Export under the fir trees,” Willy and his friends would drive to designated farmers’ pastures at night, where the cars would turn on their headlights to guide the Allied planes to landing. The pilots would quickly load the instruments and take off again. Willy, meanwhile, would retreat to the local pub, making sure he was remembered for his boisterous behaviour, thus creating an alibi.

Having developed both the expertise in military watches and a taste for adventure, Breitling never stopped producing watches to accompany pilots on high-level missions. The Avenger, first released in 2001, evolved from this tool-watch background to become the designated model for air-force squadrons.

For its 140th anniversary, Breitling is releasing Avenger capsule editions dedicated to its long-time partnerships with the United States Navy, the British Red Arrows, the Italian Frecce Tricolori, and the Swiss Air Force Team. And while you don’t have to pull off a barrel roll to appreciate the Avenger’s bold design and shock-resistant construction, it remains a jet pilot’s watch at heart.