A fine and rare, manual wind, stainless steel chronograph wristwatch circa 1965.

Case: Three-body, screw-down case back, revolving and graduated reeded bezel, lapidated lugs. 

Dial: Black with radium-coated Arabic numerals, auxiliary seconds and 30 minutes register dials. "Bâton" radium-coated hands. Signed Airain. 

Movement: Valjoux 222, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring with anti-vibration device on the regulator.

Condition: This watch is in excellent condition with an unpolished case. Dial is clean with nice even aging of the hands and numerals. Watch was overhauled in December 2020. Timekeeping is with COSC Specifications  /- 7 sec per day.

Diameter: 38mm.

More about Airain:  

Montres Airain, a subsidiary of Dodane (the official supplier of the French Air Force), was the official and exclusive supplier to the French Army during the postwar period.  The present watch, the famed Type 20, was supplied to the Army’s helicopter divisions.

The chronograph features a “retour en vol” or flyback complication, making it ideal for use by pilots while in flight. 

The case back is signed with the three stars of Cétéhor (Centre Technique de l'Industrie Horlogère) along with the heraldic emblem of Besançon.