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Tissot Chronograph (Ref. 6220-4), 1950s — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Tissot Chronograph (Ref. 6220-4), 1950s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Tissot (maker)
Date
1950s
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Stock no.
TSTCHRN62204
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (TSTCHRN62204)
Catalogue title (original)
1950s Tissot Chronograph (Ref. 6220-4) (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number TSTCHRN62204), this is a wristwatch by Tissot, made in Switzerland, dated 1950s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) 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 — Craft & Tailored

In 1853 Charles-Félicien Tissot founded Ch. Félicien Tissot & Fils in Le Locle, Switzerland, with his son Charles-Emile Tissot, a watchmaker. Tissot began as a comptoir d’établissage, which was a network of independent craftsmen who were highly specialized in producing a variety of watch parts, sold to be assembled by various watch companies and then retailed. Tissot’s initial specialty was a focus on luxurious pocket and pendant watches, predominantly destined for the United States market. In 1930, Tissot and Omega merged to form the first Swiss watchmaking association, the SSIH (Société Suisse pour l’Industrie Horlogère). Today, Tissot is under the umbrella of the Swatch Group. Tissot is one of the world’s most prominent official timekeepers for sports, and naturally offers a range of classic sports watches, including this handsome chronograph, a fantastic entry-level collector’s piece for those looking to score a classic watch that won’t break the bank. Stock # TSTCHRN62204 Brand Tissot Style Chronograph Model 6220-4 Serial N/A Size Men's Material SS Dial Silver "Aged" Millimeters 35 Strap 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The unique and possibly unpolished stainless steel case is in wonderful condition, displaying sharp angles with minimal signs of use. The case retains its original Tissot crown and pump pushers. The case back exhibits all of the original engravings, in clear and crisp visibility. The watch comes on a two-piece handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The charming silver dial has achieved a champagne-coloration revealing beautiful aging with a spidering and flecked patina throughout. The radium lumed Arabic numerals have taken on a dark patina, remaining puffy and fully intact without degradation when inspected under U.V. light. All the dial and sub-dial markings are still in clear, legible condition. The original hands appear to have been professionally restored with radium to match that of the numerals. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is keeping time and functioning perfectly, previous service history is unknown.

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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