Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 12, 1997
LOT 312
Breguet, "Type 20", 1950's. Fine stainless waterproof, stainless steel gentleman's military wristwatch with "retour en vol" round button chronograph and registers.
CHF 5,000 - 6,000
Sold: CHF 6,900
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 15 minutes registers. "Skeleton" radiumed hands. M. 14"' rhodium plated, 17 jewels, lever escapement, monometallic balance, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring. Signed on the dial, numbered on the case. In very good condition. Dian. 38 mm.
Notes
This watch is the most complicated of all the French Military
wristwatches: the " three register" Breguet chronograph was
developed horn 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 " refers to the instantaneous llv-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 imntecliatly, avoiding the need for a pilot to break
concentration Irom the controls of the plane.