12.68Z is missing chrono seconds hand, correct?

[xrono]

I am a green watch collector (hopefully just green, not glowing green). I recently bought this 12.68Z:



This watch is missing a central seconds hand. I also think the chrono minutes hand tip and tail both were damaged and it was patched back up. When I purchased it I was thinking the watch was originally sold without a seconds hand at the buyer's request, but the broken minutes hand makes me now think that is not the case. Also who wants a chrono with a minutes hand only?

I was planning on getting a new seconds hand for the watch, I looked at the mechanism and it is still working great for the seconds hand in terms of how the central gear is turning and resetting so I think it only needs a hand. Does that sound sensible?

PS here are a couple other examples of 12.68Z from a similar late-40's period for reference. The first one is also the exact same reference number, 5034. There are another ten in Goldberger's book and they all have a central seconds hand; two have only seconds no chrono minutes.

Edited: Aug 19, 2024

 

[lejaune]

Are you sure this is a 12.68Z movement? I have never seen a 12.68Z with anything other than a minute and an hour hands plus a subdial second hand. Or is the chronograph function an add-on?

 

[xrono]

It is an add-on, below the chrono stuff it looks pretty much like the non-chrono 12.68Z. Why didn't they give it a new number? Beats me! There are many chrono 12.68Z out there, all the Longines monopusher flyback models I think are 12.68Z based.

 

[Radiumpassion]

Cool watch! Looks like you are missing more than the second hand, at least
the pivot to place it on maybe broken? Some more pictures might help.

 

[xrono]

Yes I think you are right.. I didn’t realize the seconds hand has a female end on it. I guess the shaft is usually part of the gear wheel driving it? To be clear I am not planning on just getting a hand and fixing it, I am going to send it in for repair. It sounds like that gear wheel will also need to be fixed then..

Here is a picture, I think there should be a shaft coming up through the middle there and there is not?

 

[Radiumpassion]

You are right, unfortunately I believe this part is obsolete. But a good watchmaker would be able to re-pivot the gear. Do you have a picture of the movement?

 

[xrono]

Here is a shot I took of the seconds wheels. They were mis-aligned but fortunately it was an easy fix.



The watchmaker I use can make parts, I think the main issue will be the cost.

 

[Radiumpassion]

Looks like a very good starting point I hope you will find the parts and get
it up and running again Godspeed!

 

[Gabguzro]

xrono

... I think the main issue will be the cost.

As is usually the case. Everything is possible, but not everyone has the money for that.

That's a cool watch, worth restoring/completing. Good luck with that endeavor

 

[LarryG]

https://omegaforums.net/attachments/bed454e9-4a16-4605-8022-9ec6881da329-png.1226554/

 

[LarryG]

There have been lots of discussions here about the 12.68z stop second/ stop and go. I'm a big fan, have one of the ref. 5034 as well. Yours is a worthy project!

Edited: Aug 20, 2024

 

[LarryG]

 

[xrono]

Thanks for that parts picture, I can see the central seconds wheel in the list.. it’s the one with the long shaft. The Goldberger book shows the 1938 patent but no parts list.

I am definitely getting it fixed up, it’s too nice a watch not to. I am now waiting to hear back on where I will be on the wait list.

 

[Radiumpassion]