French Military pilots watches

I got this Breguet Type 20, 1st Edition this morning, here's an excuse to show them all ;-)

Breguet Type 20, 1st Edition, Ref. Nr. 5101/54
Movement was a Valjoux 222 and from what I've read the case was supplied by Mathey Tissot. (No guarantee for that bit of information)
Made in 1954 and last seviced as seen by the engraved FG (fin de garantie) by the French Military in 06.1980, so it's had a long Mil-flying life ;-)
The dial was sterile on the first batches, changed later, the 30 minute sub dial was also alterd later to 60 minutes.

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...psubtylury.jpg
http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...psmdh8pr88.jpg
http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...psxjfaed2b.jpg
http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...psua1urhmi.jpg
http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2au3mxxo.jpg

Airain

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...psta1xfggt.jpg

Auricoste

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...pswa7yp7ic.jpg

Dodane

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdqm73zhp.jpg

Vixa

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...psarmt6pjt.jpg

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd2oi4ko9.jpg

Every one a beauty, thanks for sharing.

Great Jimmy.

It isn't often you see "le quintette français"

The "ref no" is AFAIK the
"contract number"-"year"
and the Auricoste and Vixa has those too:

Auricoste: 5099-54
Vixa: 5100-54

/L

Wow i really like them , thanks for sharing , each watch is a beauty .:smiley:

What a great collection. Very nice indeed.

You certainly have a fantastic collection Jimmy.!!!!!!:eagerness:

Before I bought this watch, I sent Emmanuel Breguet (who is the Vice President and curator of the Breguet Museum) a link to the watch on offer, asking him if it was authentic, he didn't reply in time, but I bought it anyway!
(´cause I'm a nutcase, no risk, no fun;-)

Well tonight I recieved his reply :

RE: First Generation Type 20, ref. 5101/54

Dear Jimmy,

Sorry to keep you waiting. I was in Basel, far from my archives…

According to the old sales books, the Type XX Breguet N° 7688 is a genuine piece, a “military Type XX sold to the French Air Ministry on November 16, 1955.”

I stay at your disposal

With best regards


Emmanuel

Emmanuel Breguet
Vice President
Head of Patrimony & Strategic Development

Emmanuel.Breguet(@)breguet.ch

Montres Breguet SA
Place de la Tour 23
CH-1344 L’Abbaye, Switzerland

That's what I call customer service, none of your " send us 100€ and we'll look into our archives, and I f you want a Certificate, then send us another 280€"

Thanks indeed Emmanuel!

What a wonderful find those are.

Beautiful watches and very fine customer service from Breguet. :)

Do you know, it is those houses that amaze me too, do the same thing to IWC or Omega, you're sent a bill first and then they might answer your question!