
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Aero Watch Triple Date Chronograph "Dato-Compax" in 14k Pink Gold, 1950s
- Maker / attribution
- Aero Watch (maker)
- Date
- 1950s
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Dimensions
- Case 37 mm
- Stock no.
- W-2972
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-2972)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Aero Watch Triple Date Chronograph "Dato-Compax" in 14k Pink Gold (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-2972), this is a wristwatch by Aero Watch, dated 1950s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. Recorded dimensions: Case 37 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Bulang & Sons
Aero Watch, still operating as an independent family-owned company, may not be widely known—but we’re excited to present a beautiful Triple Date Chronograph, or "Dato-Compax," in 14k rose gold, and we absolutely love it! Dating back to the 1950s, this 37mm snap-back case wears wonderfully on the wrist. The elegant, fancy lugs are reminiscent of the Patek Philippe 2499 Perpetual Calendar (a pink gold model that could set you back over a million US dollars—or perhaps even a divorce!). On the right side, we find big square pushers, while on the left-hand side are the correctors for setting the date. The silver dial features red numerals and a “date track” accent, along with painted Arabic numerals. There are three subdials for the chronograph and moonphase complications. The upper half of the dial houses apertures for the day and month in Italian, along with a red pointer date hand. The hour and minute hands are non-lumed, while the chronograph hands are blued. Inside, the watch is powered by a reliable Valjoux hand-wound caliber 88, which has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. We’ve paired this pink marvel with a beautiful Bulang and Sons strap. We believe this lovely watch is a steal in today’s market and hope it finds its way to a discerning wrist. Get in touch! Specifications: - Aero Watch Triple Date Moonphase Chrono - 14k rose gold, 37mm case with fancy lugs - Serial 30xxx, dating to the 1950s - Valjoux 88 movement, hand-wound - Silver dial with red accents and painted Arabic numerals - Italian-language day and month apertures - Fully serviced by our watchmaker - Bulang and Sons strap
Historical context
Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.
The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking
Atlas type guide
Chronographs and split-seconds watches
A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.
Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.
What to look for
- Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
- Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
- Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
- Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).
Dating clues
- Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
- Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
- Automatic chronographs: from 1969.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
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