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Lemania Two Pusher Aviator Chronograph Watch, Calibre 13CH 2P, circa 1938 — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Lemania Two Pusher Aviator Chronograph Watch, Calibre 13CH 2P, circa 1938

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Lemania (maker)
Date
c. 1938
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 32.5 mm
Stock no.
vws1295
Credit line
Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws1295)
Catalogue title (original)
Lemania - Two Pusher Aviator Chronograph Watch - Calibre 13CH 2P - c.1938 (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws1295), this is a wristwatch by Lemania, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1938. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 32.5 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 — Vintage Watch Specialist

WE ARE SORRY BUT THIS WATCH IS NOW SOLD! IF HOWEVER YOU ARE LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL SOMETHING SIMILAR THEN PLEASE EMAIL sales@vintagewatchspecialist.com or WhatsApp/Call +44 7831 454658. Thanks 1930s German Aviators watch - Lemania Twin Pusher Chronograph Cal.13CH-2P, Case number 39971, With matching Lug Number! A beautiful example of military watch from WWII, it's no surprise that Lemania became the sole watchmaker to produce chronographs for the British Military from the 1940s to the 1970s. Famed for their chronometer-certified powerhouse movements, this aviator watch features a 1-12 telemeter 1 mile scale and outer 60-900 base 1 miles scale, central chronograph seconds as well as two sub-register dials for 30 minute and continuous 60 seconds measurements. The central chronograph and 30 minutes register hand, are both operated by the two pushers at 2:00 and 4:00. These straddle a large crown at 3:00 for winding and setting time. Like the central chronograph hand, the leaf hour and minute hands have aged and faded evenly in a vintage character. Signed 'Lemania', the dial bears retro Arabic numerals inside the tracking rings and a razor-thin chapter ring around the outer dial edge. All of this accenting is done in a lustrous silver pencil-like font, which compliments the jet black dial background beautifully in the light and makes for easy reading. Many of these watches were made for German aviators, and given this watch's production in the late 1930's and the scales on the dial, it is highly probable that this watch was manufactured with this purpose in mind. The 32.5mm solid stainless steel case features typical military shaping. Recently serviced and in full working order, ready to wear. Additional information Made from Case: Stainless steel Dial: Black with silver chapter ring, two register chronograph. Crystal: Plexiglass. Bracelet : Replacement Leather Strap Technical specifications Winding : Manual wind Calibre: 13CH-2P (2 pushers) Waterproof: n/a Purchase details Condition : Great overall condition for age. Model Reference Number: Lemania Aviators chronograph Date of issue : c.1938 Guarantee Supplied with a 12-month Vintage Watch Specialist guarantee Dimensions Width (excluding crown) : 32.5mm Lug width : 20mm Height (lug to lug): 38mm Wrist size : Adjustable

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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