Important watches and collector's Wis...

Hong Kong, Victoria Hotel, Jun 17, 1994

LOT 76

Breguet "Type 20 5101/54", No. 4883, 1950's. Fine stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with "retour en vol" round button chronograph and register.

HKD 20,000 - 25,000

CHF 4,000 - 5,000

Sold: HKD 35,742

C. polished, satined, screwed back, waterproof, reeded bezel, bail-shaped winding-crown. D. black with radiumed Arabic numerals + auxiliary seconds and 15 minutes register dials. M. "Skeleton" radiumed hands. M. 14"' rhodiumed, 17 jewels, lever escapement, monometallic balance, selfcompensating Breguet balance-spring. Signed on the dial, numbered on the case. In very good condition. Diam. 38 mm.

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Notes

The type 20 5101/54 (signifying the number and year of the contract) was usually made with a large ballshaped crown, enabling the watch to be rewound by a pilot whilst wearing gloves. However, any advantage gained by making the watch easy to wind, was generally outweighed by the problems of the button catching on clothing under rough conditions, and the majority have been fitted with a more conventional windingcrown. The title retour en vol, refers to the instantaneous flyback feature of the chronograph work. A single push on the lower chronograph button, zero's the chronograph hand whilst still in motion, which then restarts immediatly. Avoiding the need for a pilot to break concentration from the controls of the plane.