Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Wittnauer Professional Chronograph (Ref. 247T) "Surfboard Dial", 1960s
- Maker / attribution
- Wittnauer (maker)
- Date
- 1960s
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 37 mm
- Stock no.
- WITT247T
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (WITT247T)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1960s Wittnauer Professional Chronograph (Ref. 247T) "Surfboard Dial" (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number WITT247T), this is a wristwatch by Wittnauer, dated 1960s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 37 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 — Craft & Tailored
Vintage Wittnauer chronographs have been growing in popularity among vintage collectors. This great example possesses some key elements that make it highly desirable including its unique 37mm case size, "surfboard" chronograph dial, and stylish hands. The simple and clean dial displays a tachometer and pulsations counter. The Manual-wound chronograph caliber Valjoux 7733 is a workhorse and a favorite among manual wind chronograph fans. Stock # WITT247T Brand Wittnauer Style Chronograph Model 247T Serial7 N/A Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Silver/ Blue Millimeters 37mm Bracelet 2pc Canvas Strap CASE & BRACELET The unpolished and uniquely shaped case retains defined edges and strong factory finishing with light signs of use. The case retains its original Wittnauer signed crown and pump pushers. The case back is clean showing appropriate signs of use for the watch's age. The watch will come supplied on a 2pc cavas strap. DIAL & HANDS The silver sunburst dial features a blue "surfboard" detail that spans between the two subdials and offers a perfect retro aesthetic to the watch. The dial itself is very clean and free of any visible blemishes. The tritium lume plots have aged to a tasteful yellow patina, under U.V. light inspection the 9 o'clock lume plot exhibits some degradation, the rest of the lume plots remain fully intact with no degradation. The original tritium hands match the dial perfectly and show no degradation when inspected under U.V. light. ACCESSORIES
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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