Description

THE STORY
The Type 20 designation symbolizes a specific set of criteria for pilot’s chronographs mandated by the French Ministry of Defense. A standout feature of the Type 20 was its ‘flyback’ function, enabling pilots to swiftly reset the chronograph hand, facilitating quick initiation of a new timing event without the delay caused by pressing additional buttons. Original Type 20 chronographs boasted distinct features: a 38mm diameter case, a black dial with luminescent indexes and hands, a hand-wound mechanical chronograph movement with flyback complication offering over 35 hours of power reserve, a relative precision within + or – 8 seconds per day, and robustness capable of enduring over 300 chronograph resets without impacting the movement’s functionality.

The new Airain Type 20 faithfully adheres to the precise design and specifications of the original 1950s Type 20. This re-edition incorporates a hand-wound column wheel chronograph with a flyback function and a countdown bezel. Its black dial, shielded by a domed sapphire crystal, mirrors the Arabic numerals seen on the original 1950s Type 20, featuring twin registers at 3 and 9 o’clock that can time up to 30 minutes. Carefully chosen hand-applied Super-LumiNova recreates the luminescent essence of the original Type 20. With a 39.0mm stainless steel case (39.5mm bezel) slightly larger than the original, it meets contemporary standards without losing the charm of its iconic predecessor. The Type 20 draws power from our caliber AM2, meticulously crafted by Manufacture AMT in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland—the custom division of Sellita known for high-end movement enhancements.

TECHNICAL DATA
Model: Type 20
Reference: 421.436S

Case
Material: Stainless steel
Diameter: 39.5mm
Height: 10.85mm
Crystal: 3.92mm domed sapphire with anti-reflective coating inside
Lug-to-lug: 47.7mm
Caseback: Screwed in
Bezel: Bidirectional
Water resistance: 50m (5ATM)

Movement
Caliber: Manual-wind column wheel chronograph caliber AM2 with flyback complication
Power reserve: 63 hours (+/- 2 hours)
Chronograph: 30 minutes
Jewels: 23 jewels
Shock protection: Incabloc
Adjusted in 5 positions

Strap
Strap: Genuine Suede Leather Strap in Cognac with beige stitching and double buckle, engraved with Airain logo
Lug Width: 20mm