Introducing The New Airain Type 20 70 Ans

The Airain Type 20 remains one of the most emblematic military chronographs ever made, having been supplied to the French military during the 1950s and 1960s. Among several notable manufacturers, Airain stood out as a key supplier of flyback chronographs for aviation units, valued for their compact proportions, reliability, and clean legibility. After its revival in 2020, the brand has successfully rekindled the spirit of its original Type 20 models through faithful re-editions such as the Type 20 Re-Edition and the Type 20 ACE with a silver dial.

This year, Airain celebrates the 70th anniversary of its legendary chronograph with the release of the Type 20 “70 Ans,” an elegant Horizon Blue edition that pays tribute to the uniforms of French aviation officers in the early 20th century.

The watch features a 39 mm stainless-steel case, and 14.97 mm in thickness, staying true to the historical proportions that defined the Type 20. It combines brushed and polished surfaces and includes a bidirectional 12-hour bezel in brushed steel. A domed sapphire crystal protects the dial, while a sapphire exhibition caseback reveals the movement within. The case is water-resistant to 50 meters.

The Horizon Blue dial is the centerpiece of this anniversary edition. Inspired by the French Air Force uniforms, the color evokes both heritage and national pride. Beige Arabic numerals coated with Super-LumiNova X1 ensure legibility in all lighting conditions, complemented by rhodium-plated hands with matching lume. The dial maintains a clean bi-compax layout, featuring a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and a small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock.

Powering the watch is the hand-wound AM2 calibre, a column-wheel flyback chronograph developed by Swiss Manufacture AMT. It operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), contains 23 jewels, and delivers a power reserve of 63 hours. The flyback function allows the chronograph to reset and restart instantly with a single push, a feature once essential for pilots and still admired by enthusiasts today.

The Type 20 “70 Ans” is fitted with a beige suede strap lined in Horizon Blue leather and secured with a stainless-steel pin buckle. While not officially limited, production will begin with small initial batches. Pre-orders opened on October 21, 2025, through Airain’s website and select retailers, with first deliveries scheduled for April 2026. The price is EUR 3,850, approximately AED 16,450.

For more information, visit Airain’s official website.