This Breguet Type XX Second Generation, serial number 21xxx, is a version with a 15-minute totalizer.
What makes it particularly interesting is the mysterious engraving on the caseback – POUR LES CAS DÉSESPÉRÉS – meaning for desperate situations. The only information we have about this engraving is that King Hassan II of Morocco gifted such a watch to three of his bodyguards who protected him during an assassination attempt. While unconfirmed, this theory remains plausible, as the Breguet Archives confirm that most watches delivered to Morocco during that time were intended directly for King Hassan II, an extremely important client of the brand.
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This Breguet Type XX Second Generation, serial number 21xxx, is a version with a 15-minute totalizer.
What makes it particularly interesting is the mysterious engraving on the caseback – POUR LES CAS DÉSESPÉRÉS – meaning for desperate situations. The only information we have about this engraving is that King Hassan II of Morocco gifted such a watch to three of his bodyguards who protected him during an assassination attempt. While unconfirmed, this theory remains plausible, as the Breguet Archives confirm that most watches delivered to Morocco during that time were intended directly for King Hassan II, an extremely important client of the brand.
The first generation of Type XX was produced as early as 1953/54 to meet a request from the French Ministry of Defense, which sought to equip its pilots with wristwatches built to specific standards known as “Type 20.” These included: a black dial with luminous numerals, luminous hands, a movement resistant to pressure changes and acceleration, a rotating bezel with a 12 o’clock marker, and the “flyback” function. This first generation came in several versions, both military and civilian, featuring either a 15- or 30-minute chronograph counter, or even a 12-hour totalizer.
The second generation of the Type XX appeared in 1971, distinguishable by its enlarged 40mm case, thick lugs, and black bezel. This version was available with or without a 12-hour counter; however, the subdial at 3 o’clock was always a 15-minute counter.
Founded in Paris in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet, a genius considered by many as the greatest watchmaker of all time, with a lot of inventions such as the tourbillon, Breguet is a first-class brand, renowned for its complications and its guilloché work on the dials. Breguet became the favorite brand of the elite of European society, including kings of France Louis XVI and Louis XVIII, as well as Napoleon and Marie-Antoinette.
Since the 1950s, Breguet has also been known for the Type XX aviator chronographs conceived and supplied for the French Air Force. Today, Breguet is a brand of the Swatch Group.
The purpose of this document is to determine whether the constituent parts of the watch are conform to the model reference /period or not, and to value their condition and importance.
All the watches are provided with a digital certificate (the Watchfid-ID), that will be uploaded on your protected and anonymous digital wallet.
This document presents each watch in the most objective and detailed manner possible, thanks to a substantiated analysis, high-resolution photos designed to highlight all elements of the watch and an innovative rating system. Available in printed and digital versions.
On request and when available, an extract of the archives from the manufacturer can be obtained.
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