16,100 CHF
Au Ministère de l'Air Wristwatch No. 7860, completed on 21 September 1955, and delivered on 17 December 1957. "Armé de l'Air" Type 20, 5101/54. Stainless steel Gentleman's military wristwatch, with " retour en vol" round button chronograph and 15 minute register. Notes Note: The type 20 5101/54 (signifying the number and year of the contract) was usually made with a large ball-shaped crown, enabling the watch to be rewound by a pilot whilst wearing gloves. However, any advantage gained by making the watch easy to wind, was generally outweighed by the problems of the button catching on clothing under rough conditions, and the majority have been fitted with a more conventional winding crown. The title retour en vol, refers to the instantaneous fly-back feature of the chronograph work. A single push on the lower chronograph button, zero's the chronograph hand whilst still in motion, which then restarts immediatly. Avoiding the need for a pilot to break concentration from the controls of the plane.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1991-04-14
