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Black Dial Telemeter Chronograph Watch 1940s, 1930 — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Black Dial Telemeter Chronograph Watch 1940s, 1930

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
1930
Historical period
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 29 mm
Dealer
Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen
Stock no.
W-601
Credit line
Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-601)
Catalogue title (original)
Black Dial Telemeter Chronograph Watch 1940s (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-601), this is a wristwatch, dated 1930. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 29 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

The Mono Pusher Small Seconds Chrono This is a beautiful early chronograph featuring a mono-pusher and small seconds telemeter scale dial. The telemeter scale was used to accurately assess the distance away of an event by timing the journey of its sound and was predominantly used by the military. One could start the chronograph timer upon seeing the flash of artillery and then stop it when the sound of the explosion was heard. The reading on the telemeter would then tell you how far away the explosion had taken place. The telemeter scale is in remarkable and unrestored condition as is the rest on the dial on this striking watch. The 29mm fixed-lug steel case features a snap-on case back and remains in beautiful original condition. The Venus movement has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. Specifications - Mono-pusher steel chronograph - Dates to 1930-40s - 29mm steel case - Original mint dial with telemeter scale - Venus movement - Fully serviced by our watchmaker - Includes a handmade single leather watch pouch

Historical context

Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)

The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.

The wristwatch overtook the pocket watch. Military use in the First World War, aviation, water-resistant cases (1926), automatic winding (1923–31), rectangular Art Deco designs and early chronographs and calendars defined the period.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution

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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