Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 10, 2013

LOT 394

BREITLING AVENGER SEAWOLF TITANIUM - SPECIAL EDITION FOR THE BRITISH 22ND SPECIAL AIR SERVICE - THE `SAS` Breitling, Avenger Seawolf, Automatic, 'Chronometre Officiellement Certifie - 3000M/10000ft', No. 9/SAS, case No. 855481, Ref. E17370. Sold on May 7th, 2005. Fine and extremely rare, large, titanium, self-winding, water-resistant, center-seconds diver's wristwatch with date, helium escape valve, special 'SAS' dial and a Breitling titanium bracelet with deployant clasp. Accompanied by a Breitling fitted box, hang-tag, Certificate, Chronometer Attestation and instruction manual.

CHF 6,000 - 8,000

HKD 50,000 - 66,000 / USD 6,400 - 8,500

Three-body, brushed, concave lugs, protected screw-down crown, helium gas escape valve, unidirectional rotating bezel for the decompression times with riders at the quarters, 4.75 mm.thick screw-down back embossed with the Breitling logo, 4.8 mm.thick sapphire crystal. Matte blue with applied white Arabic numerals, luminous dots, outer minute divisions, outer inclined scale calibrated to 100 units, date aperture, SAS logo at 9 o'clock. Luminous white baton hands. Rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self-compensating flat balance-spring, micrometer regulator, hacking feature. Dial, case and movement signed.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

DIAM. 44 mm. THICKNESS 18.4 mm. This watch is one of the small number of Breitling Seawolf wristwatches commissioned for the 22nd Special Air Service. Built to withstand pressures of up to 300 bars and made of non-corrosive titanium, the Seawolf is a functional success explaining why it was a model chosen to be used by the SAS. During the design process for this model Breitling commissioned researchers at the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne to perform numerical simulations to ensure perfect geometry for the case, this being critical for water-resistance. The SPECIAL AIR SERVICE or SAS is a regiment of the British Army inaugurated on 31 May 1950. It is part of the United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world. The SAS traces its origins to 1941 and the Second World War, and was reformed as part of the Territorial Army in 1947. The Regular Army 22 SAS later gained fame and recognition worldwide after successfully assaulting the Iranian Embassy in London and rescuing hostages during the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege, lifting the regiment from obscurity outside the military establishment. The Special Air Service presently comprises 22 Special Air Service Regiment of the Regular Army, 21 Special Air Service Regiment and 23 Special Air Service Regiment from the Territorial Army. It is tasked primarily with counter- terrorism in peacetime and special operations in wartime.