THE ART OF BREGUET

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991

LOT 150

Au Ministère de l'Air Wristwatch No. 8290, completed on 4 February 1955, and delivered on 17 June 1955. "Armée de l'Air" Type 20, 5101/54. Stainless steel Gentleman's military wristwatch, with " retour en vol" round button chronograph and 15 minute register.

CHF 3,000 - 4,000

Sold: CHF 12,075

Case: Polished, waterproof, with screwed back, reeded revolving
Dial: Black painted with radiumed Arabic numerals + subsidiary dials for seconds and register. Radiumed squelette hands.
Movement: Rhodiumed, 14"', Valjoux 22 model, 17 jewels, monometallic balance. Breguet autocompensating balance spring. Signed on the dial and case.
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 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, 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.