Richard Chronograph 1950s Two Tone Grey Dial — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Bulang & Sons · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

View 1 of 6 · Image: Bulang & Sons · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Richard Chronograph 1950s Two Tone Grey Dial

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

Maker / attribution: Unrecorded in source
Date: 1950s
Historical period: Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Country of origin: Unrecorded in source
Object type: Wristwatch
Dimensions: Case 35 mm
Dealer: Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen
Stock no.: W-397
Credit line: Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-397)
Catalogue title (original): Richard Chronograph 1950s Two Tone Grey Dial (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-397), this is a wristwatch, dated 1950s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 35 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 TWO TONE TWO SCALE CHRONO We are delighted to be able to offer you another killer 1950s chrono. We love these stylish early vintage waterproof chronographs and this one is stunning condition with a dial to die for! Two-tone grey, with silver text, this dial has both telemeter and tachymeter scales. The hour markers are painted in the inner section of the dial in a cool ‘open six’ font. The case remains in good crisp condition with nice original round pushers and a screw down caseback. The off-white minute and hour hands contrast nicely with the bright white stopwatch hand. This collectible and desirable piece will come on a Bulang and Sons leather strap of your choice. The watch has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. Specification - Richard waterproof chronograph - Dates to the 1950s - Two tone grey dial - Dual scales – tachymeter and telemeter - 35 mm waterproof case - Valjoux caliber 23 movement - Fully serviced by our watchmaker - Includes a leather strap of your choice*

Historical context

Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)

Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.

The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking

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 attributionNot in source
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.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Bulang & Sons — 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

"Richard Chronograph 1950s Two Tone Grey Dial." Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen, W-397. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/richard-chronograph-1950s-two-tone-grey-dial-c800fb.