Breguet Type 20 Chronographe 2057ST/92/SW0 Guide

The Breguet Type 20 Chronographe 2057ST/92/SW0 is a 42 mm steel automatic chronograph with a black dial and a steel bracelet, part of Breguet's Type XX family that traces back to the flyback chronographs the brand supplied to the French Air Force and Navy in the 1950s. This guide covers the specifications, how the modern 2057 compares with Breguet's other current Type 20 and Type XX references, what the flyback function is for, price context and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the 2057ST/92/SW0 to order; the chronographs collection lists the configurations we can seek.

Last reviewed on September 27, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.

Breguet Type 20 Chronographe 2057ST/92/SW0 specifications

Reference details checked against Breguet's published Type XX specifications and cross-checked with the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, which tracks Swiss chronograph manufacturing standards.

What is a flyback chronograph, and why does the Type 20 have one?

A flyback chronograph lets the wearer reset and restart the stopwatch function with a single push of the reset button, without first stopping and zeroing it in two separate steps. Breguet built this into the original Type 20 for French military and naval aviators in the 1950s, who needed to time successive manoeuvres without losing a beat between readings. The 2057ST/92/SW0 keeps the flyback function on its calibre 7281, along with the large luminous numerals and simple three-register dial the military specification called for. It is a functional legacy rather than a decorative one: any Type 20 or Type XX without a flyback pusher is a different, simplified chronograph, not the historical layout.

Type 20 vs Type XX: what is the difference in name?

Breguet uses "Type 20" for the references that most closely follow the historical military specification, generally with a case at or near 42 mm, a bidirectional bezel and the flyback function, and "Type XX" as the umbrella name for the wider family, which includes references with slightly different case sizes, dial layouts or additional complications such as a date. The 2057 sits within the Type 20 designation. Both names describe the same lineage; a buyer comparing listings should check the case size, bezel type and flyback function directly rather than assuming the name alone settles it, since Breguet has used both names across different production years for closely related watches.

2057ST/92/SW0 vs 2057ST/92/3WU: bracelet or leather

The watch head is the same on both; the difference is entirely the strap or bracelet fitted and the retail price that follows from it. A buyer who already owns a strap-mounted chronograph, or who prefers to switch straps themselves, can specify either and change the fitting later, since the Type 20's 20 mm lugs accept both the factory bracelet and standard straps.

How does the Type 20 Chronographe wear?

At 42 mm and 14.1 mm thick the case is a substantial pilot's chronograph, closer in scale to IWC's Big Pilot chronographs than to a slim dress chronograph, and the black dial with large numerals is designed to be legible at a glance rather than subtle. The steel bracelet on the SW0 adds weight low on the wrist, which suits the tool-watch brief the Type 20 is built around. Wrists under about 16.5 cm may find the case reads large; the historical military spec did not consider wrist size, and Breguet has kept the 2057 close to that original scale rather than shrinking it for a broader market. The three-register dial, with a 12-hour counter, a running seconds subdial and a 30-minute chronograph counter, keeps the layout close to the 1954 original, and the bidirectional bezel with a triangle marker at 12 is a further link back to the military spec, even though it does not rotate to a locked position the way a dive bezel does.

Why French military pilots wanted a flyback chronograph

Breguet's original Type 20 contract with the French Air Force in the 1950s specified a chronograph that could be reset instantly between successive timing tasks, since a pilot timing one manoeuvre after another could not afford to stop, zero and restart the stopwatch in the middle of a mission. The flyback function solved that by combining stop, reset and restart into a single pusher action. Alongside Breguet, several other French-contracted manufacturers built Type 20 chronographs to the same military specification in the period, which is part of why the flyback layout and large luminous numerals became closely associated with French military aviation rather than with any one brand. Breguet's modern Type 20 and Type XX lines are the direct civilian continuation of that contract watch, built on a current automatic movement rather than the manually wound calibres used in the 1950s originals.

Price, availability and condition

Bizak & Co. sources watches to order; this catalogue entry is not confirmation that a specific example is on hand for immediate delivery. On 27 September 2026 our sourced catalogue listed the bracelet 2057ST/92/SW0 at US$15,199 brand new and the leather-strap 2057ST/92/3WU at US$17,999 brand new, both subject to change. Before purchase we confirm the actual watch, recent photographs, condition, included accessories, price, warranty coverage and expected timing; compare any dated quote against shipping, applicable tax and financing cost. Vintage Type 20 chronographs from the 1950s and 1960s trade separately through specialist dealers and auction houses such as Phillips, generally at a premium tied to originality and military provenance rather than to the modern reissue's retail price; the two markets should not be compared directly.

Is the Type 20 Chronographe a good investment?

Buy the modern 2057 for the flyback function, the military history behind the design and Breguet's manufacture movement, not as a speculative flip. The brand's chronographs move more slowly through the secondary market than sports watches from Rolex or Patek Philippe, and demand tracks collectors specifically interested in military pilot's watch history. A full-set example with box and papers holds interest better than a watch-only piece; ask for a written cash-buy assessment before committing if resale matters to you. Original 1950s and 1960s Type 20 chronographs, where genuine, have a small but dedicated collector base tied to French military provenance, and that older market has little bearing on how the current production 2057 is priced or resold; treat the two as separate categories rather than one continuous price curve.

Buying a used Type 20 Chronographe: what to check

• Flyback function. Press the reset pusher while the chronograph is running; the hands should snap back to zero and restart immediately rather than stopping first.
• Box and papers. Ask for the original box, warranty card and any service history; Breguet does not reissue lost papers.
• Bracelet or strap condition. Check the steel bracelet for stretch at the clasp, or the leather strap for cracking near the lugs.
• Case and pusher wear. Sharp case edges and crisp pusher action indicate light use; soft, rounded edges suggest polishing.
• Dial and lume. The large Arabic numerals and lume plots should be even in colour and free of flaking.
• Movement service history. Ask for the last service date; a flyback chronograph mechanism is more complex to service correctly than a simple three-hand movement.
• Price against the band. A full-set example offered well under the catalogue range above is the single most reliable warning sign.

Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.

Quick answers

How much is a Breguet Type 20 Chronographe 2057ST/92/SW0?

Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the bracelet version at US$15,199 brand new on 27 September 2026, against US$17,999 for the leather-strap 2057ST/92/3WU, both sourced to order and subject to change.

What does flyback mean on a chronograph?

A flyback chronograph resets and restarts the stopwatch with a single push of the reset button, rather than requiring the wearer to stop, zero and restart in three separate steps. It was built for aviators timing successive manoeuvres.

What is the difference between Type 20 and Type XX?

Type 20 generally refers to the references closest to Breguet's original 1950s military specification; Type XX is the wider family name covering related case sizes and dial layouts. The 2057 is designated a Type 20.

What movement is in the Breguet Type 20 2057?

The automatic calibre 7281, a flyback chronograph movement with roughly 60 hours of power reserve, made by Breguet.

Is the Type 20 bracelet interchangeable with a strap?

Yes. The case has standard 20 mm lugs, so the factory steel bracelet and aftermarket or Breguet leather straps both fit, though a bracelet-specific clasp may need to be swapped separately.

Request a Type 20 Chronographe sourcing quote

Tell us your preferred strap or bracelet configuration, condition and whether papers are required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, papers and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: 2057ST/92/SW0 steel bracelet, 2057ST/92/3WU leather strap; browse the chronographs collection or sell or trade your chronograph.

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