Wristwatch, Breguet Type 20 chronograph, 1960

Model: Type 20 Reference: 5101/54 Case Material: Stainless steel Bracelet Material: Leather strap Year: 1960 Movement: Manual, jewelled Case N°: 5'127 Dimensions: 38mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement Accessories: Accompanied by Breguet Extract confirming the production of the present timepiece in 23rd December 1960 and its subsequent sale on 9th February 1961 for 490 Francs.

Developed in the early 1950s in response to the requirements of the French Ministry of Defence, the Breguet Type 20 was conceived as a precise and highly reliable chronograph for military aviation. Among its defining features were the flyback function, allowing the chronograph to be instantly reset and restarted, and a rotating bezel for rapid timing operations in flight. Following successful trials, Breguet received in 1954 a contract for 1,100 Type 20 chronographs for the French Air Force, establishing the model as one of the most important military pilot’s watches of the post-war period. The present reference 5101/54 was produced in 1960 and is accompanied by an Extract from the Breguet Archives.

Its robust stainless steel case was designed to withstand the demanding conditions of aviation, while the black dial provided maximum legibility in flight. Historically significant and instantly recognizable, the Type 20 remains one of Breguet’s most important chronograph designs, its purposeful proportions and timeless aviation aesthetic continuing to appeal to collectors today.