Girard-Perregaux Pulsations Chronograph, c. 1940s

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

When presented with a chronograph and pressed to name a purpose for it, many might spring to mind. For example, there are chronographs like the Breitling Co-Pilot or the Gallet Multi-Chron Regulator , which were used by pilots. Divers (both recreational and military) might find themselves descending into the murky depths with a JLC Deep Sea Chronograph or Fortis Marinemaster strapped to their wrists. And many of the best Formula 1 drivers tackled the turns of the world’s preeminent racecourses with a Heuer Autavia or a Heuer Camaro timing their laps. There are chronographs for yachting (the Yema Yachtingraf ), or just about any sport one can conceive of (like the Enicar Sherpa Graph ); even engineers have a chronograph they can use in their jobs (the Breitling Chronomat ). So when it comes to the medical field, a profession in which accurate timekeeping is a matter of life and death, it stands to reason that there would be a chronograph made specifically for doctors or nurses. Starting in the days of pocket watches, chronographs began to emerge with a specialized scale on the outer edge of the dial. Known as a a pulsometer or pulsograph, it measures heartbeats per minute on a scale of 15 to 30 heart beats. To calculate a patient's pulse, the wearer would stop the chronograph at the patient's 15th or 30th heartbeat, and the patient's pulse would then be indicated on the dial without any additional calculations necessary. The chronograph that we feature here is a pulsometer made by Girard-Perregaux. The brand’s history of innovation, which started from its earliest days in the 1880s, includes pioneering efforts in early wristwatches. Since their beginnings, the brand has filed for over 80 patents. Watches made by Girard-Perregaux found their way to the wrists of officers in the German Navy. This particular chronograph, dating from roughly the 1940s or 1950s, features a pulsometer scale on the outer edge of the dial, as well as an inner telemeter scale. Oversized for the era with a 42mm stainless steel case adorned with a large onion crown, and featuring oversized chronograph registers, it’s ideal for its intended purpose. Whether you’re a doctor, a nurse, or just desire a chronograph with an unusual use, this GP has it all.