Dodane type 21 with Valjoux 231 in stainless steel

Holy Grail Dodane type 21 with Valjoux 231 in stainless steel

Excellent condition French military watch Dodane type 21 with black dial. It comes with two sub dials, 3 o’clock for the minutes and 9 o’clock for the seconds. The face comes with Arabic numerals for the hours as well as for every five minutes marked. At 6 o’clock comes “Type 21”. The hands are originals and the color of the luminous are mustard. The bezel is dented and graduated up to 11 and the arrow for 12. It is a screw back base in stainless steel. It is numbered 017541 – FG 7 12 79 All Stainless Steel – Antimagnetic”. The watch comes with a Valjoux 231 (very rare movement). The watch has a NATO grey strap. The watch is serviced.

History

Dodane, orginially located in La Rasse and then Besançon, was founded in 1857 by Alphonse Dodane and Francois Xavier Joubert. It has been a specialist in aeronautics timekeepers since World War I. The company has also been making Type 11 and Type 12 dashboard chronographs. In 1929, the company was certified by NATO and received the homologation RAQ2. In the 90’s Dodane produced up to 100,000 pieces per year. Dodane is famous for its type 20, 21, 23 where the original brand name is hidden behind by the stamped 3 stars of the CETHEOR of Besancon. Dodane recently provided 750 watches to the French air force.

Generally speaking the Airain Type 20 was used by the French Army, typically in Helicopters (Aviation Legere de l'Armee de Terre), while its sister watch, the Dodane was used by the French Air force. The watches are otherwise the same as Dodane manufactured them both.

Technical details

Type 21 movement is a Valjoux 231 which is a modified Valjoux 22 with added flyback complication. Sources say, it was just built 200 times and makes the watch very rare and unique. Movement has 17 jewels and 18,000 BPH.

Measurements

Diameter excluding winding crown: 37.5mm
Length including lugs:  42mm