Breguet unveils its new redesigned Type XX line

To create its new Type XX, the Breguet brand has naturally drawn on its inexhaustible heritage in the history of aviation.

Iconic for almost 70 years, this collection has accompanied the history of aviation, whether on the wrists of pilots – as a precision instrument – or on those of amateurs and enthusiasts fascinated by its legendary qualities. The Breguet Manufacture is proud to present a redesigned, innovative and highly contemporary line, full of nods to history.

To create its new Type XX, Breguet has naturally drawn on its inexhaustible heritage. To put things in context, it is worth recalling that in the early 1950s, the Maison was able to respond to the demands of the French air force for a robust and distinctive strap chronograph.

As a prestigious manufacture, Breguet served air navigation in the 20th century in the same way as it had served maritime navigation in the 19th century. Many pilots acquired its watches: Alberto Santos-Dumont in 1910, American pilots stationed in France in 1918, the Louis Breguet aviation company, Japanese pilots visiting France in the 1920s and many others.

TYPE XX CHRONOGRAPHE 2057

This garde-temps was inspired by the 1,100 examples delivered to the French Air Force between 1955 and 1959, whose name was Type 20, in Arabic numerals, unlike the others, including those of the Aéronautique Navale, which used Roman numerals for their designation. Its black dial has been modernised while remaining true to the Type 20 identity. The Arabic numerals and the triangle on the bezel are luminescent in mint green, as are all the hands.

The 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock is now more imposing than the 60-second counter at 9 o’clock, and a date window has been incorporated at 4.5 o’clock. The 42 mm steel case is fitted with a fluted bi-directional bezel which is not engraved, as was the case with the timepieces issued in the past to the military air forces.

The crown, which returns to the original pear shape, is adjustable in three positions: the first is neutral, the second for date correction and the third for setting the time. The push-piece at 2 o’clock activates the chronograph function and the push-piece at 4 o’clock the flyback function. The first push-piece is used to start and stop the watch, while the second push-piece is used to reset the chronograph and minute counter.

TYPE XX CHRONOGRAPHE 2067

This second, adventurous-looking timepiece is in the lineage of the most beautiful civilian Type XXs of the 1950s and 1960s, and is inspired in particular by a model produced in 1957 and bearing the individual number 2988. Its black dial is distinguished in several respects. To begin with, its display. The 15-minute counter is located at 3 o’clock, the 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock and the seconds counter at 9 o’clock.

As in the military-inspired version, the size of the counters differs in order to make the dial more dynamic and legible. The Arabic numerals, hands and bezel triangle are coated with an ivory-coloured luminescent treatment. The date window is positioned at 4.30 o’clock. The 42 mm diameter steel case is fitted with a fluted bi-directional graduated bezel.

Its classic, straight crown can be adjusted in three positions: the first is neutral, the second for date correction and the third for setting the time. The pusher at 2 o’clock activates and stops the chronograph functions, while the pusher at 4 o’clock activates the chronograph’s reset and immediate start, i.e. the famous “flyback”.