Description

Breguet Reference 3820

The history of Breguet is intrinsically linked to the evolution of precision timekeeping. Established in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet in Paris, the manufacture represents a pivotal moment in watchmaking history. Abraham-Louis Breguet was not merely a watchmaker but an inventor who fundamentally transformed mechanical timekeeping. His innovations, including the tourbillon mechanism in 1801 and the Breguet overcoil hairspring, established foundational principles that continue to influence watchmaking to this day.

The Breguet Type XX Transatlantique Reference 3820 emerges from this rich heritage, embodying the technical and aesthetic principles that define Breguet’s approach to watchmaking. 

Breguet’s Type XX chronograph emerged from a specific military procurement process in 1954 when the French Naval Aviation commissioned a standardized pilot’s chronograph. Breguet’s watch featured a flyback chronograph mechanism, allowing pilots to instantly reset and restart the chronograph with a single button press—a critical capability during complex flight calculations. 

Breguet delivered two primary variants: one for the French Navy (Marine Nationale) and another for the French Air Force (Armée de l’Air). 

These chronographs were not merely timekeeping instruments but essential navigation tools, with large, luminous numerals and high-contrast dials designed for immediate readability in cockpit environments. 

Breguet’s Type XX stands out for its specific design: a rotating bezel for calculating flight times, a precise chronograph function, and a case construction that could withstand significant atmospheric and mechanical stress. 

The watches were issued directly to military personnel, with each piece serialized and tracked by military logistics. Between 1954 and the early 1970s, Breguet produced limited quantities of these chronographs, making them significant both as military equipment and subsequently as collector’s items that represented a specific era of military aviation technology.

Made from stainless steel, the watch has a 40.0 mm case (excluding the crown) that balances classical proportions with practical wearability. The case demonstrates sophisticated metalworking, with a carefully executed combination of brushed bezel and the polished case with fluted sides that play dynamically with ambient light.

At the heart of this timepiece lies the caliber 852, a self-winding movement that well represents mid-20th-century Swiss mechanical engineering. Operating at 28,800 alternances per hour, the movement provides a 40-hour power reserve. The mechanism shows fine watchmaking decorations, côtes de Genève, perlage and anglage, reflecting its qualitative aesthetic and technical standards.

The dial exemplifies Breguet’s design philosophy of understated elegance. The luminescent arabic numerals stand out on the black glossy background, creating a clean and legible interface. Traditional steel super-luminova hands provide optimal contrast and readability. Careful examination reveals no age-related patina, suggesting this watch has been meticulously preserved throughout its lifetime.

This watch is complete with its screw-down crown, its original leather strap, steel folding clasp and box.

The Type XX Transatlantique Reference 3820 stands as a testament to Breguet’s enduring legacy of precision, innovation, and refined design, delivered with our authenticity guarantee and a 6-month warranty