Rare Ww2 Optima Military Chronograph Watch, C1940

UK POSTAGE ONLY FOR THIS ITEM

Rare WW2 Optima military chronograph watch, c1940.

The watch has a Venus 170 hand-winding movement which was first introduced in 1942. The movement is working. It is signed with the name Optima, a brand name first registered by Fabrique d'Horlogerie Albert Grossenbacher in 1916. The company supplied watches to both British and German forces.

The watch measures 35mm diameter excluding the later winding crown, the buttons and lugs. The case is plated while the case back is stainless steel. There is wear and marking to the plated finish. The case back is signed Optima, and it is also stamped with the military arrow and TP 1/5.

Army issue chronograph wrist watches such as this example c1940s are scarce. The complexities of the watch which is not only has time keeping ability but includes a mechanism to operate the integral interval timer creating added expense. Always anathema to the British procurement authorities. Often it was considered more economical to supply two time pieces, an ordinary wrist watch plus an additional stop watch. Nevertheless, obviates the need for the second time piece freeing the hands of the user. The copper coloured dial incorporates a telemetric scale particularly useful to determine the range of, eg, an enemy auxiliary position. The markings on the snap on case back denote the watch is capable of timing intervals to an accuracy of one fifth of a second. Such watches were issued to the Army’s Air Observation Post crew. (from Military Timespieces by Z M Wesolowski).

The original issue / reference numbers were ground off in readiness for re-issue or for de-commissioning, something seen on military issue watches.

The lens is in good condition.

The copper coloured dial is in its original finish and it incorporates a telemetric dial. The hands are later painted period replacements, possibly fitted when the watch was de-commissioned for civilian use.

The chronograph function is started and stopped by pushing the top crown, and re-set using the bottom button. When the chronograph is started, the minute recorder jumps forwards one minute.

The watch has a vintage strap.

It will be sent in a new presentation box.

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All of our watches are checked over before listing, and are also checked for accuracy which is usually within around +/- two to three minutes over 24 hours (unless otherwise stated), which is considered respectable for a vintage watch.

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