Airain
Reuver, Netherlands · Est. 1934
Founded by Auguste Réymond
Founded in 1934, Airain Watches is devoted to creating tool watches for professionals on land, in the air and at sea. The brand's deep military and aviation heritage — its name references hardness and precision — informs every timepiece, blending French design sensibility with uncompromising performance specifications.
- Founded
- 1934
- Headquarters
- Reuver, Netherlands
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Mid
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Type 20 — Legendary French military chronograph issued to the Armée de l'Air — one of the most sought-after vintage military watches.
- Mer — Marine-grade dive watches designed for the French Navy's professional diving units.
- Terre — Land-oriented tool watches built for military field use with high legibility and shock resistance.
Timeline
- 1934 — Airain founded in Besançon, France, as a specialist tool-watch manufacturer.
- 1950 — Begins supplying chronographs to the French military, including the legendary Type 20 flyback chronographs.
- 1960 — Becomes a key supplier of timing instruments to the French Armed Forces across air, land, and sea divisions.
- 1980 — Quartz crisis impacts production; military contracts sustain the brand.
- 2021 — Brand revived with reissues of the historic Type 20 chronograph using modern specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions about Airain
- What is a Type 20 chronograph?
- A specification defined by the French Ministry of Defence for military pilot chronographs. Airain was one of the key manufacturers alongside Breguet and Vixa.
- Is Airain still making watches?
- Yes. After decades of dormancy, Airain was revived and now produces updated versions of its classic military chronographs for collectors and enthusiasts.