
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Titus Calypsomatic (Ref. 7840) "Big Crown", 1960s
- Maker / attribution
- Titus (maker)
- Date
- 1960s
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- TSCAL7840
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (TSCAL7840)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1960s Titus Calypsomatic (Ref. 7840) "Big Crown" (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number TSCAL7840), this is a wristwatch by Titus, dated 1960s. 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
Solvil et Titus, Or “Titus” as its commonly referred to as was once a premier watchmaking house in Switzerland. Titus was founded in 1887, but rose to popularity in the 1960s with their model the Calypsomatic as sports and diving watches were on the rise with the heightened interest in underwater exploration. Though the Calypsomatic is one of the lesser-known dive watches from this era, it's not at the fault of quality. Featuring beautiful gilt dials, interesting hand variations, and their notably large crowns, the Titus Calypsomatic are very much so collectible to the collectors in the know. SPECS Stock # TSCAL7840 Brand Titus Style Calypsomatic Model 7840 Serial 15XXX Size Men's Material SS Dial Gilt Black Millimeters 38 Bracelet 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The strong case features long lugs which gives the watch a strong presence on the wrist. The case has been lightly polished in the past and retains very thick and symmetrical lugs. The original bezel shows light and honest signs of use with no major wear, the pearl at the 12 o'clock position matches the dial. The case retains it's original 7.5mm "Titus" signed crown. The original integrated cyclops crystal is in excellent overall condition. The case back retains all of its original factory markings in clearly visible condition, and exhibits tool marks. The watch will come supplied on a 2pc handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The beautiful glossy black gilt dial is in remarkably impressive condition, retaining a high gloss finish with no spidering or damage to the dial. The gilt text remains bright and clean. The tritium lume plots have aged to an attractive golden coloration with minimal dark spots, under U.V. light inspection the 4 o'clock lume plot shows minimal surface degradation, the rest of the lume plots remain full and round, without degradation. The original tritium hands match the dial perfectly, under U.V. light inspection the hour hand shows some lume loss in the post and the remaining lume remains stable, the lollipop portion of the hour hand shows minor cracking and remains stable. The minute and sweep seconds hand remain fully intact. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is functioning and keeping time, 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
Wristwatches
Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.
After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.
What to look for
- The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
- The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
- Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
- Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
- Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
- Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.
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.
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