Founded in 1857, in the heart of the Doubs gorges, the edge of the Swiss border, in La Rasse was the manufacturing of Chronofixe. It’s the only French watch manufacturing company certified to fabricate altimetric chronographs. After a couple of decades, French entrepreneurs decided to re-launch Chronofixe, allowing the brand to make a comeback. The world now celebrates the authenticity of the look of a genuine pilot watch by using instrument panels' inspiration from a variety of military fighter aircrafts now present in every Chronofixe timepiece.
The French Air Force Watches
It was in the early 1950’s when the French Ministry of Defense drew the specifications request for a pilot watch to supply chronograph wristwatches for its Air Force. A nationwide government request asked watchmakers to propose a hard-wearing, flight-ready design, later known as the Type 20. These watches were principally delivered to the French Air Force and provided to its pilots as part of their equipment and remained the property of the French state. Towards the late 1950-1960’s, there was a growing interest among non-military civilians in acquiring the functional chronograph. French watchmakers started to produce the same design and specifications without the Army stamping on the case back. After several generations, they are now enjoyed not only by the military for its useful purpose but by private pilots and those who are simply fans of chronographs and aviator watches.
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