Le Jour Chronograph, late 1970 — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Analog/Shift · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

View 1 of 6 · Image: Analog/Shift · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Le Jour Chronograph, late 1970

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: LeJour (maker)
Date: late 1970
Historical period: Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Country of origin: Unrecorded in source
Object type: Wristwatch
Dimensions: Case 36 mm
Dealer: Analog/Shift (dealer), New York
Stock no.: Product 2179061505
Credit line: Dealer listing, Analog/Shift (product 2179061505)
Catalogue title (original): Le Jour Chronograph (English)

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

Record summary

Catalogued by Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (stock number Product 2179061505), this is a wristwatch by LeJour, dated late 1970. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 36 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 — Analog/Shift

We’ve joined forces with our friends at 10:25 Vintage, a New York-based operation with a shared enthusiasm for interesting vintage timepieces, to bring you a robust handpicked collection that is both exceptional and affordable. Perfect for the discerning collector on a budget, these pieces provide an excellent entry point to the joys of vintage watches. When you think of these “Poor Man’s Heuers”, your mind likely jumps to Carrera-like executions produced for brands like Zodiac and Tradition. But every once in a while a less common expression surfaces that reminds us how fun and interesting these off-branded Heuers were. This one comes to us by way of France and a watchmaking operation known as Georges Monnin. Better known for developing and manufacturing early Heuer dive watches, Georges Monnin also turned out some chronograph designs that were used by Heuer and a handful of other brands, including LeJour. This rarely seen variant dates to the late 1970’s/early 1980’s and is packed with cool touches; the pristine 36mm case wraps around a reverse panda dial with square registers at 9:00 and 12:00, a quickset roulette date wheel at 3:00, and a bold orange chronograph seconds hand. Like any good Poor Man’s Heuer, it’s powered by a robust, hand-wound Valjoux drivetrain, but in this case it’s the seldom-seen Calibre 7765, signed by Georges Monnin. Interesting variations on iconic designs can be hit or miss, but we can't help but be charmed by this fun and rare execution.

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

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.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryNot in source
MaterialsNot in source
DimensionsRecorded
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

Explore further

Sources & image rights

Record source: Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Analog/Shift — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Le Jour Chronograph, late 1970." Analog/Shift (dealer), New York, Product 2179061505. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/le-jour-chronograph-1ad4c9.