
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Sandoz Kelek Three Register Chronograph, Fantastic Condition, circa 1970s
- Maker / attribution
- Sandoz (maker)
- Date
- c. 1970s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- vws3775
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws3775)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Sandoz Kelek Three Register Chronograph - Fantastic Condition - c.1970s (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws3775), this is a wristwatch by Sandoz, dated c. 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. 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
A Very Handsome and Robust Sandoz Kelek 3 Register Chronograph Featuring the Valjoux 7736 Movement, c.1970s Sandoz is a Swiss watch brand with roots tracing back to the early 20th century, known for producing reliable, affordable timepieces during the golden age of Swiss watchmaking. The brand gained popularity in the mid-century era for its mechanical watches, some powered by respected movements like ETA and Felsa. Notably, Henri Sandoz & Cie helped pioneer Swiss watch exports. Today, vintage Sandoz watches are admired by collectors for their classic styling, solid build, and historical charm. What's on Offer This Sandoz Kelek 3-Register Chronograph is a striking vintage sports watch from the 1970s, powered by the renowned Valjoux 7736 manual-wind movement. Housed in a bold, cushion-shaped stainless steel case and paired with a vibrant orange rubber strap, it delivers real wrist presence with a splash of retro racing flair. The black dial features contrasting white sub-dials for seconds, minutes, and hours, with orange highlights and a vivid red chronograph hand offering excellent legibility. Surrounding the dial is a fixed tachymeter bezel, built for measuring speed, further enhancing the tool-watch aesthetic. Under the hood, the Valjoux 7736 beats at 18,000vph, with 17 jewels, Incabloc shock protection, and a 45-hour power reserve. Water resistant to 20 ATM when new, this Swiss-made timepiece blends vintage charm with rugged performance. A bold, collectable chronograph with real 1970s soul — and a whole lot of style. This watch is in fantastic vintage condition with minimal signs of previous wear, it is meaty on the wrist but remains surprisingly comfortable. It will certainly inspire some envious glances - we love it!
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
Related records
Wristwatches · 1970
Sandoz Monsoon (Ref. 1776Z-84-8) "Roulette", 1970
Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles
Wristwatches · c. 1970s
Sandoz Redfish, c. 1970s
Analog/Shift (dealer), New York
Wristwatches · 1970
Wristwatch by Heno, Switzerland, 1970
Museum Rotterdam
Wristwatches · 1970s
Wristwatch, plastic, by Gucci; Italy, 1970s.
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Wristwatches · 1978
Calculator wristwatch by Suwa Seikosha Co. Limited, Japan, 1978
Science Museum Group, London
Wristwatches · 1980
Wristwatch, 1980 (no. 71413)
Museum Rotterdam
Wristwatches · 1980
Wristwatch, 1980 (no. 91477)
Museum Rotterdam
Wristwatches · 1980–1982
Wristwatch, Space Shuttle; plastic, Japan, 1970-1979?
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
