Lot 177

Breguet

Type XX

An aviator's extremely rare vintage chronograph with flyback mechanism, sold to the naval aviators of the French armed forces "Marine Nationale pour l'Aéronautique Navale". The watch was completely serviced at Breguet in February 2023

Sold

As early as 1958 the French Navy ordered 500 aviator’s chronographs with larger 15-minute registers for their pilots. Other than the earlier Air Force chronographs these pieces were signed on the dials, were engraved "BREGUET MARINE NATIONALE AERONAUTIQUE NAVALE" and came with non-magnetic movement protection caps. The watches featured flyback functions and bi-directional bezels. All military watches were regarded part of the equipment and remained the property of the French government. Only in exceptional cases the pilots were permitted to keep the watches.
The accompanying extract from the Breguet archives no. 4768 states that this military chronographs was produced in 1960 and delivered to the pilots of the Marine Nationale pour l'Aéronautique Navale. All watches were numbered; this watch is no. 426. Next to the number are five different dates for the end of the warranty period (FG), starting at 19.12.64 and ending at 20.1.80.