Wittnauer Valjoux 71 Chronograph

Wittnauer, later absorbed by Bulova and Longines, used to make some beautiful chronographs. Wittnauer began as an American pocket watch manufacture who adapted during wartime to wristwatches. The later 242T and 7004A are probably their best known references. But well before either came this wartime chronograph. This early reference is radium-lumed with a salmon dial and an incabloc-patent case.

The Valjoux 71, predecessor of the 72, is a column-wheel chronograph that powers a gorgeous blued center-seconds hand. It sits inside a classic incabloc case on a vintage beads of rice bracelet. The seller claims it is one of two known in this configuration (I have no knowledge of their production numbers). The 1940s were a decade of highly varied design. Most of it hasn’t aged quite as well as this.

Find this early Wittnauer here from IG seller Avocadovintagewatches.