Another vintage chronograph comes to my stable, the Election valjoux22 oversize chronograph

georgeszaslavsky

Hello
Another acquisition of Ebay will be added to my collection very soon, it is not a known brand but a missing disappeared brand that in its time had beautiful watches, the brand Election. I pulled the trigger on the chronograph of the 50s for several reasons:
-elegant chrono with flat pushers and beautiful dress watch
-diameter of 40.5mm (rare for the time)
-movement valjoux 22 signed and adjusted 3 positions (bridge marked 3adjs, very uncommon on this movement)
- Excellent condition case, movement, dial, crown
- original signed crown
-45min counter (less frequent than the counter 30min on a valjoux 22).
I attach photos of my watch and vintage advertisements
Have a good day
Sincerely
Georges

MMMD

I think the best place to find value right now among vintage chronos is Valjoux 22s from lesser known brands.

georgeszaslavsky

Back from the overhaul with a little history of the brand. Election ; SA La Chaux de Fonds, Le Geneveys sur Coffrane
Other company names: A. Braunschweig, L. Braunschweig, Les fils de L. Braunschweig, Fabrique d’Horlogerie Election SA

History: The company was founded in in 1850 as A. Braunschweig.
In 1900 the company was listed as Les fils de L. Braunschweig for all kinds of watches from cylinder to lever, simple and complicated movements, minute repeaters, chronographs, calendars, grand sonnerie and chronographs.
They exhibited at the Paris expo in 1900.
In 1916 the company was listed as L.Braunschweig, Fabrique d’Horlogerie Election SA
In 1920 the company had an ad. For Manufacture des Montres Election.
This abbreviated information is from K.H.Pritchards Swiss Timepiece Makers

In 1950 Election is acquired by Marvin Watch Company, which is founded in 1850 in Saint-Imier (Schweiz) and moved to the famous wacht-village/valley La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1894. The brand Election is used until somewhere in the sixties where it silently went out of production.
http://watch-wiki.org/index.php?title=Marvin

Their final model is (probably) the Superdate Deluxe. Although they became especially famous for their pocket watches and their quality, they also had a famous Grand Prix line in wrist watches which is (also) rare and still popular under a small group of enthusiasts.

Unfortunately, I don't know the heritage of the Grand Prix line. Till 1914 Grand Prix were only held once a year in France (Lyon), so that has nothing to do with Berne and the Swiss Grand Prix was only included in the championship in 1934. Now-a-days is the Grand Prix of Berne a famous 10 miles run, but this just started in 1982. There does exists some kind of an Expo that is a 'presentation of Switzerland'. This is a rare happening and was also held in 1914 in Berne.