The Airain Type 21 re-edition is a manually wound flyback chronograph with a 39 mm steel case, a 63-hour power reserve and a current listed price of €3,450. It has the proportions and pilot-watch features to appeal to fans of vintage-inspired chronographs, but buyers should verify the exact strap and caseback configuration: Airain’s product page describes them inconsistently.
What the Airain Type 21 is
Airain presents the Type 21 as a modern interpretation of a 1960s watch, linked by the brand to a 1956 French Ministry of Defence request for a more durable and easier-to-maintain update to the Type 20. In Airain’s account, the Type 20 reflects the original 1950s pilot specification, while the Type 21 represents that later update. The brand says the re-edition draws inspiration from a vintage Type 21 that appeared at a 2021 Sotheby’s auction. These are Airain’s historical claims; the available sources do not independently establish the archival history. Airain’s Type 20 and Type 21 collection describes the watches as having flyback chronographs, column wheels, bi-compax luminous dials, oversized controls and pilot-focused bezels.
Specifications and current price
Airain’s product listing, accessed in 2026, prices the Type 21 at €3,450. The figures below are manufacturer-listed specifications, not independent measurements or test results. Check Airain’s current Type 21 listing for availability and the latest configuration.
| Specification | Airain’s listing |
|---|---|
| Case | Stainless steel; 39 mm diameter, or 39.5 mm at the bezel; 47.5 mm lug-to-lug; 14.77 mm height |
| Crystal | Double-domed sapphire |
| Water resistance | 50 m / 5 ATM |
| Bezel | Bidirectional friction bezel with a 12-hour countdown scale |
| Movement | AM2 (Manufacture AMT), manual-wind column-wheel chronograph with flyback |
| Frequency and jewels | 28,800 vph; 23 jewels |
| Power reserve | 63 hours |
| Dial and counters | Glossy black dial; Arabic numerals in Super-LumiNova “Old Radium”; small seconds at 9 o’clock and 30-minute recorder at 3 o’clock |
| Caseback and strap | Conflicting descriptions on the product page; see configuration notes below |
| Warranty | Two-year global warranty |
| Listed price | €3,450 on Airain’s product page, accessed in 2026 |
How the case may wear
The 39 mm case diameter is only part of the fit picture. Airain lists a 39.5 mm bezel diameter, 47.5 mm lug-to-lug span and 14.77 mm overall height. The latter matters in a chronograph, especially under a double-domed crystal: the watch may sit taller than its diameter alone suggests. Compare all four dimensions with a watch you already find comfortable, and consider how the height interacts with cuffs. These specifications do not establish how the watch wears on every wrist.
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Movement: the current listing and an older review differ
Airain currently specifies the AM2 (Manufacture AMT), a manual-wind, column-wheel chronograph with flyback. That combination means the chronograph can be reset and restarted in one operation while it is running, rather than requiring a stop-reset-restart sequence. The listing gives a 63-hour reserve, 28,800-vph frequency and 23 jewels; these are manufacturer figures, not independently verified performance measurements.
A WatchTested review published April 24, 2024 described the movement as based on the Sellita SW510 and listed a price of $3,196. Fratello’s hands-on report says Airain changed movement after the base chronograph caliber could no longer support the flyback function. The accessible sources do not establish the exact production transition or whether the 2024 review covered an earlier production version. Treat the AM2 as the specification for Airain’s current listing, and check with the seller if the movement in a particular watch is decisive to your purchase. The older review’s dollar figure is dated context, not the current listed price.
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Configuration details to confirm before ordering
Airain’s product page conflicts with itself on two practical details. An earlier feature block describes a midnight-blue leather strap and sapphire display caseback, while its detailed specification block names a brown leather strap and solid engraved caseback. The feature block also differs in its description of the dial and hands. Do not assume either strap color or caseback from the general page: ask Airain or the retailer to confirm the exact reference or SKU, included strap and caseback before purchase.
Airain’s collection page lists a 20 mm lug width. If you plan to buy a replacement or alternate 20 mm watch strap, confirm the actual lug width and whether the strap will work with the supplied buckle; width alone does not guarantee buckle compatibility.
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Is the Airain Type 21 worth considering?
The Type 21’s appeal is specific: it combines a traditional manual-wind flyback chronograph and pilot-watch styling with a compact listed case diameter, a useful 63-hour reserve and a brand story tied to the Type 20’s later evolution. At €3,450, the case for buying it depends on valuing that combination and being comfortable with the listed dimensions and configuration checks.
Before comparing it with a Type 20 or another pilot chronograph, weigh the movement and flyback function, case diameter and thickness, bezel operation, water resistance, warranty and current price. The available sources do not provide a tested head-to-head comparison, accuracy measurements or long-term reliability evidence, and this is not a hands-on wear or performance review. Buyers who need those answers should seek independent measurements or arrange a try-on before committing.
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- CHRONOGRAPH MOVEMENT: A classic timepiece that speaks across generations - a stylish men's watch with Japanese Quartz Chronograph movement and date function
- THE FINER DETAILS: The Hawker Hurricane Classic Chronograph features a 42mm stainless steel case, a 22mm genuine leather strap, mineral lens and water resistance of 50m.
- 2 YEARS INTERNATIONAL WARRANTY: Your AVI-8 watch is warranted against any manufacturing defect for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of purchase.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
