Dear all,

up for sale is an iconic Airain type 20 chronograph from the 60s.

Case Diameter: 38 millimeters
Lug Width: 20 millimeters
Case Material: Stainless steel
Case Condition: Great condition, no significant nicks or scratches, very crisp and sharp, shallow name engraving on the back (would polish out easily)
Dial Condition: Great condition, no scratches or stains
Movement: Valjoux 222 Manual winding flyback, works propery as it should
Strap: head only

Price: € 3100 plus shipment of your coice or best reasonable offer. Watch is located in Germany. Plenty of references and feedback available. No returns.

 

Issued or private Airain ?

 

@watchyouwant how can I tell the difference?

 

Not to hijack the thread, but IIRC, the three stars on the back indicate issue to helicopter pilots.

 

Military issued ones have the Service dates engraved outside of the case back. Hard to see in your pictures ....

 

and for @Dan S
Type 20 by definition is a military designation, type XX is civilian version.

this caseback doesn’t have any “FG – Fin de Garantie” inscription, as you will often find on French military casebacks, and especially on Dodane and Breguet Type 20/21. This inscription was stamped on the watch back by the military watchmakers at the end of the servicing in order to indicate the next servicing date. The ALAT‘s ( helicopter army squadrons ) chronographs never had an end-of-warranty inscription and were maybe serviced by civilian contracters, but no proof for that yet.

The 3-star marking on the outside caseback means that this chronograph has received one of the highest distinctions from CETEHOR (CEntre TEchnique de l’industrie HORlogère), created in 1945, in order to promote the quality of the French watchmaking. The CETEHOR had an official control department, equipped to subject the watches to series of very demanding tests concerning the quality of manufacture and the precision of the movements. A few companies have had the privilege to win the 3 stars distinction for their watch. Yema is one of it. Dodane is another.
If interested, I invite you to read the very complete © article by ChP on the French forum Montres pour tous, with a lot of historical documents.

This above watch seems to have correct number and 3 star inscription, although polished. GLWS !

 

Thanks a lot for your detailed explanation. That’s very informative and interesting.

 

Bump & offers welcome.

 

As requested. Some movement pictures. All looks very clean and correct to me.

please look over here for references:
https://shop.hodinkee.com/products/1960s-airain-type-20-for-the-french-army-2?variant=32916370980939

https://shop.hodinkee.com/products/1960s-airain-type-20-1?variant=27730587713611

 

The movt pics don't seem to be showing up though - might need to repost them?

 

Thanks for the heads up.

 

That is looking crisp and clean.

 

Bump.

Offers welcome.

 

Nope!
It is a french quality mark from the CETEHOR (centre technique de l'industrie horlogère) in Besançon, it has nothing to do with it being officially issued or not. 1, 2 or 3 stars depending on the complexity/quality. Usually issued watches for the french airforce have warranty service marks stamped on the outside of the back (FG + some number). I suppose more than a few of those were privately bought and flown in service by military pilots though.

EDIT : for reference

https://www.montrespourtous.eu/viewtopic.php?t=2564

 

Thank you for confirming my earlier post

 

Bump

 

Still available. I’m happy to negotiate the price as long it’s within reason.

 

Some say this, some that:

"Sometimes, collectors think that the lack of such inscriptions means that Airain Type 20 like mine have not been used in the army and are just “civilian” watches. I personally made this mistake in the beginning. It is later that I learned that the ALAT‘s chronographs never had an end-of-warranty inscription. One of the reasons given is that they were being serviced by civilian watchmakers, but I have no formal proof of this hypothesis."

https://clockmetender.net/airain-type-20-a-very-collectible-french-military-chronograph/