in 1935. Willy's children, however, were not interested in pursuing the family business, so the Breitling factory in La Chaux de Fonds closed in December 1978. Willy, already in poor health, died in May 1979.

Ernest Schneider bought the Breitling name from the founding family in 1979. Schneider was owner of the Sicura in Grenchen. Production of Breitling watches