Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Airain Type 20 “70 Ans”, a Horizon-Blue Tribute to the French Flyback Chronograph
A disciplined, contemporary build of one of the great military chronographs.
Born from the French Ministry of Defence’s Type 20 brief in the mid-1950s, the Type 20 Chronograph watches featured a black dial, a flyback (retour en vol) function, a rotating bezel, and pilot-proof robustness. Alongside fellow suppliers like Breguet, Mathey-Tissot, and Auricoste, Airain’s Type 20 quickly became one of the most recognisable field chronographs. A compact case, clean bi-compax layout and crisp flyback action carved out a loyal following in aviation units.
Revived in 2020, Airain has methodically rebuilt that legacy with faithful, modernised reissues: the Type 20 Re-Edition (returning to the original proportions and functionality), the Vert Militaire, a period-correct aesthetic variant, and the stealthy Type 20 Furtivité (DLC case and contemporary palette), not to mention a few other editions. Along the way, the line received practical upgrades, a sapphire crystal, a robust hand-wound column-wheel flyback from Manufacture AMT, and dial/bezel refinements, without diluting the original military specs. And here comes the new Type 20 70 Ans, a watch that fits naturally into that continuum: a careful anniversary take honouring the model’s roots while adopting today’s reliable construction and finishing.
This 70th anniversary edition retains the proportions and purpose that defined the original: a 39mm steel case with a bidirectional 12-hour bezel, a clear bi-compax dial, and pairs them with details that nod to French aviation history. The new Horizon Blue dial recalls early-20th-century French uniforms and design, while beige Grade X1 lume preserves the cockpit legibility the specification demanded. Fans will appreciate the hand-wound, column-wheel flyback calibre inside (Manufacture AMT’s AM2), visible through a display back.
The Airain Type 20 70 Ans is offered on a beige suede strap lined in Horizon Blue. Priced at EUR 3,850, it will be released in initial limited batches, with pre-orders starting from October 21 and first deliveries expected in early April 2026. To learn more or place an order, visit Airain.com.
