The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Dodane’s 2017 Type 21 limited reissue kept the vintage watch’s compact 37 mm proportions and flyback-chronograph purpose, but it was not a movement-for-movement recreation: the original used a hand-wound Valjoux 23, while the reissue used an automatic Dubois-Depraz 2030. Dodane’s current two-register Type 21 is a separate, larger 41.50 mm model with a different automatic caliber. Keeping those versions distinct is essential to judging what “faithful” means.
Why the Type 21 was made for aviation
Dodane says it developed the Type 21 on the order of French military leadership as a timing and navigation instrument for pilots, including as a backup if aircraft instruments failed. Its defining feature is the flyback, or retour en vol, chronograph: pressing the reset pusher returns the chronograph hands to zero and immediately starts timing again. Dodane describes that one-action sequence as useful for following a flight plan or timing air-traffic-control instructions. Dodane’s company history also estimates that about 5,000 Type 20 or Type 21 chronographs were produced between 1956 and 1994 under several brand names and in different configurations; that is the manufacturer’s own figure, not a separately verified production count.
What the 1956 Type 21 programme does—and does not—establish
The Aeronautical Technical Service published its “Technical programme for Type 21 chronograph wristwatches intended for use in flight” in April 1956. As summarized by Breguet’s historical account, the programme described such features as an approximately 37 mm case, a 35-hour power reserve, a luminous bezel marker and numerals, and a specified register arrangement.
Those details are criteria in the programme, not proof that every delivered watch was subjected to the same mandatory checklist. Breguet quotes the document as saying its conditions “are not mandatory” and would serve as a basis for future regulations. The actual tests imposed on individual watches are therefore difficult to establish from the programme alone.
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Nor should Type 20 and Type 21 be treated as interchangeable names in every context. Breguet notes that some manufacturers produced Type 20 watches and others Type 21 watches. Dodane’s production estimate groups both families, and its history records variations in registers and movements.
How faithful was the 2017 limited reissue?
Fratello’s March 25, 2017 report described Dodane’s limited reissue as notably faithful in appearance, especially in its vintage proportions. It reported a 37 mm case and 18 mm lug width—dimensions that help explain the model’s period character and distinguish it from Dodane’s current larger listing.
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The largest departure was the movement. The historical watch described in Fratello’s account used a hand-wound Valjoux 23 modified for flyback; the reissue used an automatic Dubois-Depraz 2030 with flyback. The article also notes that the reissue case was thicker, though it does not give a thickness figure. Its account is contemporary specialist reporting, not an independent technical inspection of every delivered example.
Fratello reported that Dodane planned 160 pieces in each case finish. It also gave a release-era price of €5,900; that is a historical launch figure, not a statement of current availability or resale value.
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The 2017 reissue and the current listed Type 21 are different watches
Dodane’s current official English product page lists a two-register Type 21, reference T22-P-NBI. Its dimensions, caliber and displayed price differ from the 2017 limited edition’s reported specifications. The product page lists €3,900 including VAT; price and availability can change. Dodane’s current Type 21 listing gives these specifications:
| Specification | Dodane current two-register Type 21 listing |
|---|---|
| Case | 316L stainless steel; 41.50 mm diameter; 13.70 mm thick |
| Movement | Swiss-made automatic Dubois-Depraz 42022 |
| Chronograph | Two registers; flyback |
| Power reserve and frequency | 42 hours; 28,800 A/h |
| Water resistance | 10 bar |
| Crystal and caseback | Scratch-resistant sapphire upper crystal; hardened mineral-glass caseback |
| Other details | Super-LumiNova C3; unidirectional ratcheted bezel; black calfskin strap |
| Displayed price | €3,900 including VAT on Dodane’s page, accessed October 8, 2026; check the listing for current price and availability |
The listed model’s 41.50 mm case is 4.50 mm wider than the 37 mm case reported for the 2017 reissue. The current caliber is also a Dubois-Depraz automatic, but it is the 42022—not the 2030 reported for the limited reissue. The product page does not establish that the current watch is a continuation of the 2017 limited edition.
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What “faithful” means when choosing a Type 21
For the 2017 edition, “faithful” is best understood as a description of its reported appearance and vintage-sized case, not a claim that it reproduces every historic specification. Its automatic movement replaced the original’s manual-wind caliber, and the available report says the case became thicker. Dodane’s current two-register model moves further from the 37 mm proportions with a 41.50 mm case, while retaining automatic flyback timing.
Dodane says its watches are designed in France and their components come from Swiss or French manufacturers. That is the company’s description of its sourcing and design approach, rather than independent verification of the origin of every component in each model.
Check the edition before buying or ordering a strap
The 2017 report gives that limited edition an 18 mm lug width, so an 18 mm strap is relevant to that reported configuration. Do not assume the same fit for every historic or current Type 21: confirm the lug width for the exact reference and example. Similarly, the 2017 edition’s announced production and launch price do not establish that it is currently available or indicate its present market value.
Quick Recap
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.
