Breguet enriched its historical collection

On October 26th, at a Phillips auction dedicated to 50 iconic 20th century models, the Breguet Museum acquired a superb 1967 Type XX chronograph.

This remarkably well preserved model recalls the watch company’s strong involvement in the field of aviation, a connection that gave rise to the Type XX contemporary watch collection.

While watch-related activities are the heart and soul of the brand, the interests pursued by Abraham-Louis Breguet’s descendants have sometimes extended well beyond the field of horology, such as those of Louis Breguet. Perpetuating the genius of his great-great-grandfather, he ventured into the conquest of the skies in 1907. Louis Breguet soon made a name for himself in this field thanks to several notable inventions including the gyroplane, the ancestor of the helicopter, and the famous two-seater Breguet XIV plane. In parallel with the aeronautical activities of the Louis Breguet aviation company, the Breguet watch firm developed chronograph mechanisms fitted on aircraft cockpits and began producing watches for aviators.

In 1935, it introduced its first wrist chronographs. Twenty or so years later, Breguet launched production of the Type XX commissioned by the French armed forces: the famous chronograph was to equip the French Air Force and Naval Aviation until the early 1980s. These models were so highly sought-after that the House decided to issue a civilian version. With or without an hour totaliser, but always including the flyback function, these timepieces feature slight variations (relating to rotating bezels, winding crowns, dials) that continue to delight collectors.

The Type XX chronograph newly acquired by Breguet belongs to the first generation of these timepieces. It is distinguished by a brushed steel case with slightly curving lugs. Its 38.5 mm case frames a dark brown dial bearing luminescent hands and Arabic numerals. This model produced in 1967 was initially sold on January 26, 1968.

November 23, 2017