Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Porsche Design by Orfina Chronograph 1 ref. 7177 'Military' NOS, 1970s
- Maker / attribution
- Porsche Design (maker)
- Date
- 1970s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 42 mm
- Stock no.
- W-1989
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-1989)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Porsche Design by Orfina Chronograph 1 ref. 7177 'Military' NOS (English)
Editor's note
The dealer's brand field named another maker; the dealer's own listing title identifies the watch as Porsche Design.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-1989), this is a wristwatch by Porsche Design, made in Switzerland, dated 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 42 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 PVD Porsche… This is a very cool military-design watch, that is in literally new condition! The 42mm case is in pretty much perfect condition, with the PVD coating showing only the tiniest of marks as a result of storage over the years. The black dial features three sub dials and also two cool orange hands – one for the stopwatch hand and the other in the hours counter. The dial features the 3H marking, which signifies Hyrdogen 3 or as we know it better tritium. The tritium lume has taken on a nice patina over the years. The watch will come on the pictured strap. As this watch is in completely untouched condition, we have decided to not even open this time capsule. The watch is running fine, but for everyday wear a service is recommended in which we could assist. Specifications: - Reference 7177 - 42mm steel case with PVD coating - Serial 39xx dates to the 1970s - Black ‘3H’ dial with day and date windows - Lemania 5100 movement - Comes on the pictured strap - One-year mechanical warrantee - Includes a handmade leather watch pouch
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 timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: 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.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
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