Based in 1934, Airain was well-known for its Sort 20 flyback chronographs within the mid-Twentieth century, supplying the French navy together with manufacturers like Breguet and Mathey Tissot. These chronographs might be immediately reset to zero by urgent the 4 o’clock pusher by way of the flyback perform and had particular necessities like a bidirectional 12-hour rotating bezel, 35-hour energy reserve (minimal) and lume on each the arms and Arabic numerals. Airain didn’t survive the quartz disaster and lack of French navy contracts, however was revived in 2020. The Airain Sort 20 ACE is the newest chrono mannequin and introduces daring and trendy styling from a collaboration with Dutch retailer Ace Jewelers.
The chrome steel case is 39.5mm in diameter and 10.85mm in peak (with out the double-domed sapphire crystal), which is near the unique at roughly 38mm in diameter. There’s a bidirectional 12-hour countdown bezel with black numbers and marks, and basic chrono pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock. The outsized push/pull crown is simple to govern and water resistance is rated at 50 metres. The screwed case again is metal with an engraving referencing the Ace Jewelers collaboration. Strap choices embody black leather-based with orange accents or a material orange NATO, and each have metal pin buckles.
The dial is the massive change in comparison with earlier fashions with a brighter, silvery-white end and orange parts. The majority of the aesthetic is monochromatic with black (outlined) Arabic numerals and matte black hour/minute arms, all crammed with Tremendous-LumiNova BGW9 Grade X1. A bolder orange Tremendous-LumiNova is used for the central chronograph seconds hand, together with the minute hand/roulette minute observe on the 30-minute sub-dial at 3 o’clock. The small seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock is in black. An in depth minute/chronograph seconds observe spans the outermost perimeter.
Powering the Airain Sort 20 ACE is the calibre AM2, which is a hand-wound column-wheel flyback chronograph. Developed by Manufacture AMT in La Chaux-de-Fonds, it has 24 jewels, beats at 28,800vph (4Hz) and comes with a 63-hour energy reserve. Capabilities embody central hours, minutes and chronograph seconds, 30-minute counter and small seconds with flyback reset.
The Airain Sort 20 ACE shouldn’t be restricted and retails for EUR 3,450 (with VAT). It’s accessible instantly from Airain or the Ace Jewelers web site, and in addition on the Ace & Dik boutique in Amsterdam and different choose approved sellers. For extra info, please go to Airain’s web site.
