Important Collectors Wristwatches Po...
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 22, 1995
LOT 12
Breguet, 1950's. Fine stainless waterproof, stainless steel gentleman's military wristwatch with "retour en vol" round button chronograph and registers.
CHF 8,000 - 10,000
USD 6,000 - 8,000
Sold: CHF 9,200
C.polished, screwed back, revolving bezel graduated for 12 hours. D. black with radiumed Arabic numerals + auxiliary dials for the seconds, the 12 hours and 30 minutes registers. "Skeleton" radiumed hands. M. 14"' rhodiumed, 17 jewels, lever escapement, monometallic balance, selfcompensating Breguet balance-spring. Dial and case signed. In excellent condition. Diam. 38 mm.
Notes
This watch is the most complicated of all the French
Military wristwatches : the "three register" Breguet
chronograph was developed from the Navy model,
with both 15 minutes and 12 hours registers, as well as
a continuous auxiliary seconds. An additional feature
was the adjustable bezel graduated for 12 hours.
The title "retour en vol" referas to the instantaneous
fly-back 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.