Albishorn –AIR Type 10 Officer Chronograph Edition

 

Albishorn – AIR Type 10 Officer 1948 Chronograph Edition 2025

 Albishorn is proud to release a new iteration of the Type 10—an imaginary ancestor to the renowned Type 20.

Albishorn creates vintage watches that never existed. Designed to explore imagined, exciting, and parallel histories, we call this concept “Imaginary Vintage®.”

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Their timepieces can be seen as “missing links” in the history of watchmaking, fitting seamlessly into the heritage of horology while distinctly showcasing their own character. With the Type 10, Albishorn answers the question: What might a predecessor to the iconic Type 20 chronograph, hypothetically crafted in 1948, have looked like? Now, let’s delve into the backstory of the Type 10Officer—the missing link in the history of military chronographs.

The imaginary history

Pilot chronograph wristwatches from the past hold a fascinating place in horological history. Born out of necessity during the early 20th century, these timepieces were developed specifically for aviators, who required accurate and reliable instruments to navigate the skies. These watches were not only tools but also symbols of the adventurous spirit and technological progress of the time.

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The origins of pilot chronographs can be traced back to World War I, when aviation was rapidly evolving and pilots needed precise timekeeping devices to calculate flight durations, synchronize maneuvers, and plan navigation.

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Many iconic models emerged in the 1950s, which all became enduring symbols of aviation timekeeping.

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From all these chronographs, the Type 20 is certainly the epitome of pilot chronographs. The Type 20 was manufactured for the French Army by various watchmakers such as Breguet, Vixa, Auricoste, and Dodane. It was designed as a tool watch for pilots, featuring a flyback function, a rotating bezel, and anti-magnetic properties. It gained popularity due to its robustness, functionality, and elegant design.

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Unfortunately, the Type 20 does not have a direct predecessor. However, let's imagine how an earlier model, an elusive ancestor of the Type 20, developed during the end of 1940s might have looked like.

The Watch

The Type 10 Officer is a monopusher military chronograph conceived in the spirit of the 1940s. Developed to meet the demands of pilots of that era, it combines a distinctive design with a patented movement built for precision and reliability.

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Within the Type 10 range, the Officer holds a particular place. Its white dial is not a gesture of elegance, but a functional choice. Designed for daylight operations and open-air precision, it offers optimal legibility under glare — on training fields, mountain slopes, or snow-covered terrain, where bright conditions make dark dials harder to read. Robust, chronometer-certified, and manually wound, the Type 10 Officer embodies the discipline and clarity of the true instrument watch.

Dial

Like all pilot chronographs, the dial of the Type 10 was designed with a focus on legibility and functionality. Its striking cream color serves as a backdrop for the contrasting black luminous numerals, ensuring easy readability in various lighting conditions, making it highly suitable for pilots who require quick and accurate time readings during their flights.

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To further ensure excellent legibility and unlike any other mechanical chronograph wristwatch (including the Type 20), the Type 10 boasts two sub-dials positioned at 4:30 and 7:30, showcasing the running seconds and the elapsed minutes respectively. The inclusion of two counters at the bottom of the dial contributes to a clear and wellorganized “dashboard type” design. In addition, it features a unique and patented chronograph function indicator at 12 o’clock. 

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The hands are filled with luminous material (Super-LumiNova®) as well, allowing for easy reading in low-light conditions, critical for night flights.

Case

With a sleek stainless steel case of only 12 mm height (sapphire box crystal included!), the Type 10 reflects a seamless blend of robustness and elegance. The alternance of brushed and polished surfaces provide a subtle contrast, accentuating the watch's overall presence. All edges of the case have been chamfered and polished, offering a sophisticated haute horlogerie aesthetic.

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One of the standout features of the Type 10 is its black turning bezel. Made from DLC-coated steel, the bezel was designed to rotate in a bidirectional manner. The black color not only adds a bold and distinctive touch to the watch's appearance but also offered a high contrast against the case, enhancing legibility.

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The rotating bezel features engraved graduations alternately filled with lacquer and luminous material, enabling aviators to perform various calculations related to flight planning and navigation. The conical shape of the bezel adds a dynamic element to the watch's design, further enhancing its aesthetic appeal.

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Positioned at 10:30 on the case, the crown allows for easy winding and time-setting while keeping it clear of any obstructions during crucial maneuvers. The crown is specifically crafted from bronze. The choice of bronze emphasizes the prototype aspect of the watch and adds character and visual distinction to the timepiece. Over time, it will develop a patina, giving the watch a unique, aged appearance.

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Adjacent to the crown, at 9:30 on the case side, is a red aluminum pusher, discreetly integrated into the case design. The location at 9:30 allows the pusher to be activated by the thumb, which is considered the best finger for operating a chronograph. The overall design and the large size of the pusher simplify the operation and add a touch of uniqueness to the watch. This innovation is a testament to the Type 10's commitment to practicality and usability, as its simplicity in operation perfectly aligns with the Type 10's intended purpose as a reliable tool for professional pilots.

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The concept of a single pusher chronograph is also reminiscent of early chronographs that featured a single button for starting, stopping, and resetting the chronograph function. This single pusher controls all the chronograph functions —start, stop and reset— allowing pilots to measure elapsed time with precision.

Movement

The Type 10 incorporates a robust and reliable proprietary mechanical chronograph movement, meticulously tested and certified by the COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute). This manual-winding chronometer chronograph movement, hidden beneath a solid caseback, is expertly crafted in La Chaux-defonds, Switzerland, to ensure accurate timekeeping and flawless functionality. 

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Once fully wound, it offers an astounding 65 hours of power reserve. A further standout attribute of Albishorn's movement is its remarkably low height of only 5.70 mm, enabling the production of particularly thin chronographs reminiscent of the 1940s and setting it apart from its competitors

Versions

The Officer is the third version of the Type 10. The two first one are the Classic and the Sihlwald.

Price and availability

The Type 10 Officer is priced at CHF 3,950, excluding tariffs, taxes and shipping. It is limited to 99 pieces, produced over a period of three years. It will be available exclusively online at www.albishorn-watches.ch. Sales will open on Friday, December 12, 2025, at 9:00 AM (EST) / 3:00 PM (CET).

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       ABOUT  Albishorn - Imaginary Vintage®

Welcome to Albishorn, the independent Swiss watchmaker that builds vintagewatches that never were.We create original and unique mechanical timepieces that can be seen as “missinglinks”. 

They fit seamlessly into the history of watchmaking but clearly have a characterof their own. We create what we call “imaginary vintage” watches.Ever wondered about the fictional forerunner of the renowned “Type 20” chronographused by the French military? Meet the “Type 10”, a creation of our fantasy at Albishorn(coming in October 2024)!This approach reflects our primary commitment to creativity and imagination. Weidentify designs and concepts that could have perfectly complemented classic watchesof the past but were never brought to life. What about a chronograph that marries theelegant appearance of a skin diver to a novel and patented regatta display? 

We havepioneered this new genre with the Marinagraph®, making it the perfect companionfor maritime adventures (coming in 2025).Sébastien Chaulmontet, Albishorn's head, shares: "I love searching for one-of-a-kindwatches, prototypes, and those that challenge conventions—a homage to the endless creativityof our watchmaking ancestors. These elusive timepieces often unveil glimpses of what couldhave been. They fuel my imagination and make me dream of timepieces that I would have lovedto exist but were never actually made. Albishorn is committed to create these unique watches."Upholding Swiss craftsmanship in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, our skilled teamblends tradition with innovation. 

Albishorn ensures the highest Swiss qualitystandards, using premium materials to create watches that are not only beautifullydesigned but also reliable companions for generations.Each Albishorn timepiece captures the spirit of a bygone era, mirroring the charm anddetails of vintage watches while embracing modern watchmaking technology. Weactively pursue original dial layouts and displays, complemented by our distinctiveproprietary mechanical calibers. These movements often showcase patentedcomplications, further enhancing the uniqueness of our watches.

Step into the world of Albishorn and join us on a horological journey. Discoverwatches that complement vintage history, enhancing your collection with uniquepieces that transcend time.We hope that you will enjoy wearing our watches as much as we did making them.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS    

Collection: AIR 

Model: Albishorn Type 10 Officer Chronograph 

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Case
    Material: 316 L stainless steel case with polished and satin finished surfaces and with chamfered and polished edges
    Diameter: 39 mm
    Thickness: 12 mm (with sapphire); 11.1 mm (without sapphire)
    Lug to lug: 47.7 mm
    Glass: Box sapphire crystal with antireflexive coating
    Bidirectional rotating bezel in DLC coated stainless steel with engraved and lacquered figures and Super-LumiNova® indexes; Scale: 60 units 
Winding Crown and pusher
    Bronze winding crown with engraved Albishorn logo
    Pusher in red anodized aluminium
    Water-resistant to 100 meters
Dial
    Cream textured dial with black Super-LumiNova® figures
Hands
    Black painted hour, minute and second hands filled with beige Super-LumiNova®
    Black chronograph second and minute hands filled with beige Super-LumiNova®
Movement
    Patented proprietary chronograph caliber ALB02 M
    COSC certified chronometer (Contrôle Official Suisse des Chronomètres)
    Manual winding
    Monopusher
    Height: 5.70 mm
    Diameter: 30.00 mm
    Frequency: 28'800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
    Number of jewels: 21
    Typical power reserve: 65 hours
Functions/Indications
    Hours and minutes
    Running seconds at 4:30 o’clock
    60-second counter in the center
    30-minute counter at 7.30 o’clock
    Patented chronograph operating indicator at 12 o’clock
    Stop second device
Strap 
    Black leather strap with Albishorn buckle
    Beige Leather strap with Albishorn buckle
    Lug width: 20 mm

🔰Limited edition of 99 pieces, produced over a period of three years. 
🔴 Price :  CHF 3'950 (excl. taxes)💰

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Press release - 2025
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Time-it GmbH
Obermühle 11 - 6340 Baar
Switzerland
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