Manufacturer: Breguet Year: 1952 Case No: 1164 Model Name: "Pre Type XX" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 14", 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle Dimensions: 38mm Diameter Signed: Case numbered, dial signed Accessories: Accompanied by Breguet "Attestation" confirming production of the present watch in 1952 and its subsequent sale to Société d'Aviation Louis Breguet on February 3, 1953 for 27,000 French Francs.
Catalogue Essay
The discovery of the “blue print” of one of the most iconic watches of the second half of the 20th century results in an uncontrolled sense of exhilaration.
Breguet’s Type XX doesn’t really need an introduction. Delivered to the pilots of the French navy in 1955 this chronograph was commissioned by the French government seeking a more accurate timekeeper for both their Naval and Air Force. They sought a multipurpose chronograph wristwatch with flyback function, which allowed the user to quickly reset and restart the chronograph from an instantaneous timekeeping in order not to fly off course. The ‘type’ designation was not a specific model name for a particular brand, but rather it was the military specification commissioned by the French government, which several brands provided. Breguet’s “Type XX” became the best known of these military chronograph watches.
The present watch sold to aircraft manufacturer (and descendant of Abraham-Louis Breguet) Louis Breguet in 1953 (two years before the delivery of the first Type XX to the French government) sets the codes of the future Type XX such as syringe hands, large luminous Arabic numerals and grooved rotating bezel.
This Breguet n° 1164 is not only historically important but it is a slice of pure awesomeness. It lures in seductively with its large masculine case, short thick lugs and flat bezel. The dial however is the most striking element of this Breguet chronograph. The unusual and rarely seen vibrant black glossy dial is a wonderful canvas for the Arabic numerals that have turned to an elegant cappuccino color.
A timepiece of incomparable elegance and rarity, the present watch is a must have in the collection of the savvy collector.
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.