The original Airain was founded in January 1934 by the Dodane watchmaking family and was one of suppliers of the French Army. It quickly became a known brand to many watch enthusiasts. After WWII, Airain was one of seven watchmakers, including Breguet and Dodane, that supplied ‘Type 20’ chronographs to the French Air Force and Naval Air Force. Type 20 refers to a French military specification for pilot’s chronographs, referring to the original, military-issue watches. Today, the Airain Type 20 model is one of the most sought-after military timepieces of all time.