Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 18, 1997

LOT 83

Breguet, No. 4263, AeroNavale No. 331, sold to the Marine Nationale - Aeronautique Navale on 1958. Fine waterproof, stainless steel military wristwatch type 104 with retour en vol, round button chronograph and registers.

CHF 6,000 - 7,000

C. polished, satined, screwed back, revolving graduated bezel, dust protecting cap. D. black with radiumed Arabic numerals + auxiliary dials for the seconds, and the 15 minutes registers. "Baton" radiumed hands. M. 14"' rhodiumed, 18 jewels, lever escapement, monometallic balance, antishock system, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring. Signed on the dial, numbered on the case. Diam. 38 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image

Grading System
Case: 1

As new

Movement: 1

As new

Dial: 2-51

Very good

Partially reprinted

Notes

Chronograph Type XX and the retour en vol device. Louis Breguet (1880-1955), developed a keen interest in aeronautics, conquering the air in 1907 in his gyroplane, the first helicopter in the world to leave ground with a passenger. Soon afterwards was established the Louis-Breguet aircraft industry. Meanwhile, the watchmaking firm Breguct, saw a new opening and began producing watches for pilots or to be fitted on aircrafts. biontres Breguuel therefore introduced chronographs with registers and tachymetric scale and among their first clients were, of course, the American Air Force in 1918 and the Louis-Breguet aircraft industry in 1922. The number of clients soon increased, especially in the fifties. The chronograph wristwatch Type XX, launched in 1954, became the most successful and most famous post-war aviator 's watch. Though at first these watches were intended for the strict use of air forces, Breguet, in the 70 's, launched the seconde generation of then edited these models for civilians. Breguet 's third generation of Type XX, Type XX Aeronavale, is now on the market. The peculiarity of the Type XX chronograph is that it features the rafoul en vol, or «instantaneous fly-back,, device. This function, highly appreciated by pilots and aeronautical authorities, was incorporated in all Type XXmodels and in chronographs to be fitted in aircraft dashboards. The relour en vol device is a great time saver, reducing three actions to one, since it allows the chronograph hand to return to zero by simply depressing the lower push-button; consequently, the chronograph hand, back at zero, can restart immediately.