Breitling, Genève, Chronograph, Ref. 1-446-097. Made for the Canadian Air force Circa 1970's. Stainless steel wristwatch with monopusher chronograph and register.
Case: Three-body, polished, lapidated concave lugs, inclined bezel, screwed-down case back with military engraving: D. N. D. S/N NS 892 Stock No. 6645/21/802/1267. Signed
Dial: Unsigned, white with printed Arabic numerals and luminous dots, subsidiary dials for the seconds and 30-minute register. Luminous blued steel syringe hands and orange chronograph hands.
Movement: Caliber 236, modified Valjoux 23, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straight- line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring. Signed
Ref. 1-446-097 exclusively for military use
Circa 1970s
Diameter: 36.5mm Thickness: 13mm
More about Breitling:
In the late 1960s, The Royal Canadian Air Force purchased watches from different Swiss manufacturers such as Omega and Breitling with specific requirements from the Department of Defense (DND). The watch had to be a monopusher chronograph fitted with a sterile silver dial, a very visible chronograph hand in bright orange.
Breitling produced a watch specifically for the Canadian military use and with its own reference. The watches were delivered until the early 80's and about 800 watches were produced.
This watch is in excellent condition with a beautifully aged dial with light patina. the chronograph hand is a bright orange in contrast to the tritium dot markers which have turned a dark green. The DND engraving on caseback is nice and crisp. An excellent watch which was never available to the public from a prestigious watch brand at an affordable price.