Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 17, 1992

LOT 311

Breguet "Armée de l'Air" Type 20 5101/54, No. 7197, 1950 's. Fine stainless steel gentleman's military wristwatch, with"retour en vol" round button chronograph and regIster.

CHF 6,000 - 8,000

Sold: CHF 7,590

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


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Notes

Note: 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 winding-crown. 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 immediately, avoiding the need for a pilot to break concentration from the controls of the plane.