Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 15, 1994

LOT 61

Breguet «Armée de l'Air», Type 20 5101/54, Ref. 7517, 1950's. Fine stainless steel military wristwatch with «retour en vol» round button chronograph and register.

CHF 4,000 - 5,000

Sold: CHF 6,325

C. polished, screwed back, waterproof, reeded revolving bezel, ball-shaped winding-crown. D. black with painted radiumed Arabic numerals + auxiliary seconds and 30 minutes register dials. «Skeleton» radiumed hands. M. 14"' rhodiumed, 17 jewels, lever escapement, monometallic balance, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring. Dial and case signed. In very good condition. Diam. 38 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image

Notes

Note: The type 20 5101/54 (signifying the number and year of the contract) was usually made with a large ball-shaped 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 winding-crown. The title "retour en vol", refers to the instantaneous fly-back feature of the chronograph work. A single push on the lower chronograph button, zeros the chronograph hand whilst still in motion, which then restarts immediatly, avoiding the need for a pilot to break concentration from the control of the plane.