Mathey-Tissot began delivering chronograph wristwatches to the US Army’s Corps of Engineers during the First World War. At first glance, you will be amazed by the striking resemblance of this watch to Breguet’s Type XX. It is no coincidence, however. The production of Breguet’s acclaimed Type XX timepieces were in fact subcontracted to Mathey-Tissot, who manufactured and assembled them for Breguet, in accordance to the French Ministry of Defense’s specification.

The example presented here is believed to be a prototype model. Made for the Aéronautique Navale – the French Navy’s Aviation division, the dial features a large and unusual 15-minute counter at 3 o’clock with five luminous markers at each 3-minute interval. The hour counter positioned at 6 o’clock sets this watch apart however, as this third sub-dial is extremely uncommon, with an estimated 50 examples produced. Nearly all of these were signed Breguet, making this “Mathey-Tissot” signed example exceptionally rare.

The present Type XX watch remains in excellent overall condition, and is an exciting, hardly ever seen example that will delight any collector.