Breguet has had a relationship with aviation for more than 100 years, supplying watches to both civilian and the military, and at the centre of it all is their flagship, the Type 20.
This example is known as the ‘Second Generation’ Type 20, first released in the 70’s and featured a completely new design to its predecessor. With a larger 40.7mm case with thick square lugs and a black anodised bezel, it was quintessentially 70’s in it’s styling. Initially intended to be used by the French Air Force, it was deemed too expensive and thus it was only sold to civilians.
Through my correspondence with Emmanuel Breguet from the Breguet archives, he confirmed with me that this Breguet Type 20 was completed in 1976 and sold in 1977.
While we are all more familiar with the earlier first generation, steel bezel Type 20, the second generation is one rare bird. With its characteristically ‘Big Eye’ dial layout, where the right subdial is larger than the left, along with its leaf shape minute counter hand and flyback chronograph movement, this is unmistakably Breguet in it’s DNA.
I do feel these are somewhat under the radar, partly due to its rarity and the fact that Breguet on the whole didn’t make too many watches. That being said, there is a certain air of rarefied taste in wearing a vintage Breguet- understated, yet to those who know, it is something special.
