THE ART OF BREGUET
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991
LOT 151
Au Ministère de l'Air Wristwatch No. 7860, completed on 21 September 1955, and delivered on 17 December 1957. "Armé 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 16,100
Case: Polished, waterproof screwed back, reeded
revolving bezel.
Dial: Black painted with radiumed Arabic
numerals + subsidiary dials for seconds and
register. Radiumed squelette hands.
Movement: Rhodiumed, 14"', Val joux 22 model,
17 jewels, monometallic balance. Breguet
autocompensating balance spring. Signed on the
dial and case.
In very good condition.
Diam. 38 mm.
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.