Beschreibung:

16BreguetA very rare and highly attractive stainless steel military flyback chronograph wristwatch with black dial, sold to benefit the Institute for Digital ArchaeologyCirca 1954 38mm Diameter Case numbered and signed. Caseback further engraved with multiple "Fin de Garantie" markings. Estimate $12,000 - 18,000 CHF10,800-16,200 €10,100-15,200 HK$93,000-140,000 Place Advance BidContact Specialist Paul Boutros Head of Watches, Americas & International Strategy Advisor Senior Vice President +1 212 940 1293 pboutros@phillips.com
Condition ReportRequest Condition ReportThank youfor your request. The Condition Report will be sent shortly.Contact Us* RequiredSend me the Report ViaEmailFaxContact SpecialistCancelDescriptionOur Buyer's Premium has been updated. View our Conditions of Sale.Manufacturer: Breguet Year: Circa 1954 Case No: 7139, No 5101/54 Model Name: Type XX Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. Valjoux 222, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel riveted bracelet, overall max length 190mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Dimensions: 38mm Diameter Signed: Case numbered and signed. Caseback further engraved with multiple "Fin de Garantie" markings. Catalogue EssayBreguet’s Type XX was delivered to the pilots of French naval forces beginning in the mid-1950s. Commissioned by the French Ministry of Defense, they sought a multipurpose chronograph wristwatch with flyback function, which allowed the pilot to quickly reset and restart the chronograph instantaneously to aide in navigation. The “type” designation was not a specific model name for a particular brand, but rather it was the project code used by the French Ministry of Defense to define the specifications, which were presented to several watch brands including Breguet. These included a black dial with easily readable Arabic luminous numerals, a 38mm diameter case with screw back for water-resistance, a bi-directional rotating bezel and accuracy to within eight seconds a day. Breguet’s “Type XX” became the best known of these military chronograph watches. Breguet’s Type XX was produced either in a military or a civilian version over the course of its history. To maximize the legibility of the military-issued watches, the dial did not display any information such as the brand or the model name. Only the caseback was engraved with Breguet, Type 20, 5101/54 and then further engraved with FG and a date. Interestingly, the caseback of this watch bears a large number of these inscriptions starting with FG which stands for “Fin de Garantie”: end of guarantee in French. These engraving were made by the watchmaker that would have serviced the watch to inform the pilot when he should have his watch serviced next. Its original, matte black dial is a wonderful canvas for the luminous Arabic hour markers that have turned to an elegant light brown color. This lovely Type XX is being sold to benefit The Institute for Digital Archaeology, a non-profit organization promoting digital techniques in archaeology, epigraphy, art history, and museum conservation. It is a must have timepiece for any savvy collector.Read MoreMaker BiographyBreguetSwiss • 1775 Follow Established in 1775 by Abraham Louis Breguet widely considered the greatest watchmaker of all time, the storied brand continues to thrive in the modern era, creating exceptional high-end watches as the Swatch Group's premier prestige brand. Some of the most important and lasting inventions in watchmaking are attributed to Abraham Louis Breguet including the tourbillon, shock resistance and the use of hammers and gongs employed in nearly all minute repeating watches made since. Eighteenth and nineteenth century Breguet pocketwatches are especially sought-after by collectors, and many of them were made for the elite of European society, including Napoléon and Marie Antoinette. Key wristwatches from the twentieth century include oversized dress watches, two-register chronographs, triple calendars and Type XX aviator's chronographs made for the French military and civilians.View More Works