129 Breguet A very rare and attractive, Type XX, military chronograph wristwatch in steel with black dial and extract from the archives.
Estimate: € 10.000 – 20.000
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| model | Type XX |
|---|---|
| year | 1957 |
| case material | Stainless steel |
| case number | 8'096 |
| bracelet material | Leather strap |
| movement type | Manual, cal. 22, 17 jewels |
| dimension | 38.5mm Diameter |
| signed | Case and movement |
| accessories | Accompanied by Breguet extract from the archives confirming the delivery of the present timepiece on 31st July 1957 to the Ministere de l'Aire. |
In the tense geopolitical atmosphere of the 1950s, France’s Ministry of Air demanded a technical instrument for its elite naval aviators. The result was the Type XX: not a model name, but a military code that signified one of the most purpose-built chronographs of the postwar era. Among the few makers commissioned to fulfill this exacting brief, it was Breguet who delivered what would become the definitive expression of the genre. The requirements were surgical in their clarity: instantaneous legibility through luminous Arabic numerals; a flyback chronograph to restart timing without delay and a rugged movement accurate to within eight seconds per day. Civilian watches may have worn their signatures proudly on the dial, but issued Type XXs did not. Here, form followed function—the only markings were on the caseback: “Breguet,” “Type 20,” serial numbers, and the letters FG for Fin de Garantie, marking the end of its service warranty. This example bears two such engravings, the latest from 1982, speaking to its long operational life. What elevates this piece beyond its already rarefied field is its great state of preservation. Accompanied by a Breguet Extract confirming delivery to the Ministère de l’Air on 31 July 1957, it bridges utility and provenance in perfect unison. For collectors of military timekeeping or Breguet’s storied legacy, this is a surviving witness of aviation history, and an enduring symbol of horological purpose.
Condition Report
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