Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Vetta Ermetico Oversized Step Case Waterproof Chronograph, 1940s
- Maker / attribution
- Vetta (maker)
- Date
- 1940s
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 38 mm
- Stock no.
- W-2616
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-2616)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Vetta Ermetico Oversized Step Case Waterproof Chronograph (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-2616), this is a wristwatch by Vetta, dated 1940s. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 38 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
This is a Vetta Ermetico in a large 38mm step case steel case. The Ermetico case is recognized for its distinctive step-design and waterproof capabilities, with large pushers and snap-on case back. The innovative snap back case sealed the watch hermetically, there for the Italian “Ermetico” as this brand was solely for the Italian market ! We love the dial in this watch with cream outer and tropical brown inner. The oversized steel case is in fantastic condition, with a well-defined step and signature large pump puhsers. The dial is two tone with cream outer and tropical brown inner sections. The tachymeter is outer most in black and the telemeter scales is in red. The no lume hands are blued steel that have taken on a very dark hue. The watch is fitted with the pictured leather strap and the manual wind movement has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. We love vintage watches with a soul and would love to share our passion with you on a call or visit to our lounge. Please get in touch Specifications: - Vetta Ermetico - 38mm steel step case - serial 53xx - Dates to the 1940s - Two tone cream dial with two scales - No lume blued hands - Manual wind movement valjoux 22 - Comes on pictured leather strap - Fully serviced by our watchmaker - Includes a handmade leather watch pouch
Historical context
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.
The wristwatch overtook the pocket watch. Military use in the First World War, aviation, water-resistant cases (1926), automatic winding (1923–31), rectangular Art Deco designs and early chronographs and calendars defined the period.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution
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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