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Vintage NOS Lip Mach 2000 Chronograph, 1970s — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Vintage NOS Lip Mach 2000 Chronograph, 1970s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Lip (maker)
Date
1970s
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 42 mm
Stock no.
W-605
Credit line
Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-605)
Catalogue title (original)
Vintage NOS Lip Mach 2000 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-605), this is a wristwatch by Lip, dated 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 42 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

Roger Tallon’s Dark Star Design Lip Chrono The Dark Star chronograph is undoubtedly on of the most eye-catching watch designs ever. Designed by French industrial designer Roger Tallon for Lip, the watch is considered not just an important watch design but also a general piece of iconic design in its own right. The black aluminium case measures a large 42mm and has three spherical control knobs on the right-side of the case. The Lip will come on its original unworn strap and will also be accompanied by the original box. We love this cool watch and have written a piece on the history of the Mach 2000 here – go and have a read! This watch is in completely untouched condition and we have decided to not even open this time capsule. The watch is running fine, but for everyday wear a service might be recommended! We are happy to assist with this if the buyer would prefer the watch to be serviced. Specifications - Lip Mach 200 Chronograph - Dates to the 1970s - NOS condition - 42mm aluminium case with steel case back - Valjoux 7734-2 movement - Original strap and box - Includes a handmade single leather watch pouch

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

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