Analyse three copies of same 1940’s Wittnauer chrono...

keepschanging · Jan 5, 2018

Hi guys

Was interested to find three different copies of the same 1940’s Wittnauer chrono online. Seems to provide a good opportunity to compare condition / spot redials etc.

What do you guys think of them?

Number 1 looks in best condition, but is it a redial?! Number 2 and 3 have patina but looks attractive to me; maybe 2 is better...

Vitezi · Jan 5, 2018

There's a lot going on in these dials - a mix of fonts, open and closed 6s, crossed and uncrossed 7s, art-deco numerals, overlapping subdials, 1/5th-second markers, red/blue/black scales - that are consistent across all three examples but often trip up a redialer.

So even though the first example has that vaguely smudged and faded printing that is suggestive of an old redial (examples two and three seem to have crisper printing in these photos), it gets all the other details right. The 60-second subdial hand on the second example is different from the other two, but that would not bother me. The blued hands (on all the examples) look great. Are these all steel cases, or chrome plated?

gatorcpa · Jan 5, 2018

Vitezi
So even though the first example has that vaguely smudged and faded printing that is suggestive of an old redial (examples two and three seem to have crisper printing in these photos), it gets all the other details right.

I think that is because the first picture is generally out of focus. This is why it's so tough to really address this issue with only a single internet picture of a random dial. Looking at three separate examples in different conditions of preservation really helps.

I agree with the rest of your assessment. There is too much going on with these dials for a redial to be even close to accurate.

I think that the first dial is original.
gatrorcpa

keepschanging · Jan 6, 2018

Very interesting, thanks guys!

I personally can’t see any difference in the 60 second sub-dial of the second one.

If the first is original, I guess it’s in very good condition for its age!

Vitezi · Jan 6, 2018

keepschanging
I personally can’t see any difference in the 60 second sub-dial of the second one

The subdial hand on the second example does not feature the tail that the other examples have.

keepschanging
If the first is original, I guess it’s in very good condition for its age!

If you're considering a purchase as a collector, remember it's condition, condition, condition.

keepschanging · Jan 8, 2018

I’m struggling to shake my suspicion re the first one. -And yet a very, very close inspection reveals total consistency with the other dials. See for example the strange font for the number “7” on the snail dial - they are identical.

Hmmmm...

Vitezi · Jan 8, 2018

keepschanging
the strange font for the number “7” on the snail dial - they are identical

Indeed. Note that all the 7s are crossed except the telemeter scale on all three examples. Ask for better photos of the first one if you're thinking about a purchase.

keepschanging · Jan 8, 2018

Thanks. I am a little tempted. It’s at Menta watches, easy to zoom on the website pictures. There are some rust spots on the case which would need work.

Analyse three copies of same 1940’s Wittnauer chrono...

keepschanging

Vitezi

gatorcpa

keepschanging

Vitezi

keepschanging

Vitezi

keepschanging

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