Breguet and Aviation

So lucky me, I got an invite to the "super-fab" Breguet event featuring several of Breguet's vintage aviation time pieces -

Courtesy of Brigit

So after a nearly three hour trip (that normally takes 90 minutes!) I arrived and made a beeline for the vintage chronographs -

It is a very well assembled group of chronographs on display, with pieces dating from the earliest days of the Type XX.  These were not all "show-ponies", but rather real watches that actually look as if they were actually worn by actual people - making them (in my eyes anyway) even more important.

And it wasn't just limited to wrist watches - there were some interesting pieces not designed to be "strapped on".

And what is truly great about exhibitions like these, is that you can actually see where a lot of today's inspiration is coming from - you don't have to look too closely to see some design cues for Kobold, Sinn and Bell & Ross. To some extent this is "common ground" for more than a few companies. The moniker of Type XX (type 20) or Type 21 really is referring to the actual military specifications required for the watch and not indicative of a brand/model name in the traditional sense. This is why you will see several manufacturer's with Type XX watches. What the number refers to is the sequence, or version of the watch.

From the starting point to today, Breguet's endeavors in the timing of flight are well represented.

But what's an event without fans?

Well, the friendly-neighborhood watch intelligentsia were on hand - and there was a real trend towards the Breguet Marine - and I personally spotted two in their "natural environment" -

And up close -

And there was another -

You will not a striking "family resemblance" -

And of course, there is always an interloper! But Jonatan can take pride in knowing that a Dubey & Schaldenbrand was able to "crash" this party without being escorted out by security ; )

So there you have it - well worth the trip!  Thank you to the Host with the Most - Alfred Acosta of Breguet Beverly Hills.