OVERVIEW

The story of the of the Co-Pilot AVI can’t be told without mentioning the original reason it was designed: to acquire a contract with French military. While the watch very much resembles the Type 20, its lack of a flyback complication is the reason other brands Auricoste, Breguet, Dodane, and Vixa, who would go on to supply the French army with chronographs instead.

Despite this, the design works significantly better as a flight watch to work alongside cockpit instruments and give pilots critical timing information without pulling attention away from the task of flying.

Its most unusual feature was a forward-thinking 15-minute counter displayed through a window at three o’clock, replacing the traditional subdial to make reading elapsed time quicker and more intuitive in demanding conditions. Paired with a stark, high-contrast dial, everything was stripped back to what mattered most: clarity.

Launched in 1953 as reference 765, the watch also introduced a practical rotating bezel that could track elapsed time or serve as a backup timing aid, shaped with a grippy, beaded edge for use even with gloves on. Early production included both this version and a more conventional three-subdial layout, with both continuing through the following decade.

By the 1960s, the Co-Pilot had evolved into something more refined and versatile, adopting contrasting subdials and a cleaner modern look. It moved beyond its purely military roots and found a wider audience, notably being worn by Raquel Welch on the movie “Fathom”. Today, it remains as one of the most iconic and beautifully designed chronographs of the 1960’s.

CONDITION NOTES

CASE: Never polished and extremely sharp with minimal wear for a 60+ year old watch.

DIAL & HANDS: Stunning original dial in excellent condition with original matching hands. Very clean subdials. Very light mark near 2:00 that can only be seen as slight angles and barely worth mentioning.

MOVEMENT: Fully serviced recently with high amplitude and accuracy.