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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Rodania Mono Pusher Chronograph 1960s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Rodania (maker)
Date
1960s
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 35.5 mm
Stock no.
W-1239
Credit line
Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-1239)
Catalogue title (original)
Rodania Mono Pusher Chronograph 1960s (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-1239), this is a wristwatch by Rodania, dated 1960s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 35.5 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 — Bulang & Sons

A rare chronometer rated early chrono This is a very rare early chronometer rated chronograph dating to the 1960s. At that time, it was highly unsual for chronos to be chronometer rated – it didn’t happen with the Rolex Dayton until the 1970s for example. This watch is in a 35.5mm steel mono pusher case, with screw down case back and is very similar to examples of these watches that were issued to the military, although issued examples were nearly always non-chronometer examples. The white dial remains in great original condition and had Arabic numerals that are painted in lume at 12 and 6. The watch houses a Rodania-modified Venus 175 movement that features a gooseneck regulator. The Rodania’s movement has been fully checked and regulated by our watchmaker and the watch will come on the pictured Bulang and Sons strap. Specifications:

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 timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: 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.

Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph

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