Bought this watch tonight at auction but really have no idea what it is.
Any one know?

 

It looks like a Stop Seconds chronograph dial but I can't see any way of stopping the seconds, doesn't look like it's built into the crown.

Possibly used by just reading the running seconds hand but I've never seen that before, I'd bet on a transplanted dial.

Here is a Helvetia Stop to illustrate what I mean.



Brand looks like Itra. Never heard of them either, Sorry.

 

You are quite correct, there is no way to start/stop things.

 

Was that picture there when I looked last time!!! I am going blind in my old age. I think because there were no buttons to be seen from the front I must have not registered the holes in that image when scrolling past.

So let me rephrase, there is no way to stop/start but there are holes where there were! So not a transplanted dial but not a very happy looking stop seconds chronograph.

 

The brand is called “Money Pit” ... finding parts and fitting them plus service will be tough.

 

If there is more than one jewel in that movement I will be surprised.

 

Are you thinking Ebauches Bettlach caliber 8420?

 

I was thinking it could be a Lance Armstrong watch

 

+1. Pin lever. I doubt anybody would consent to try to fix it, and the OP shouldn’t plan on spending any money on it, anyway! I hope it was an inexpensive lesson in what NOT to buy!

 

Perhaps this should go in the shopping under the influence thread

 

The name "Itra" was one of many brands registered by the Itraco Watch Co. of Zurich, Switzerland, first registered on June 16, 1951.

 

These are R. Lapanouse based pin lever "stop chrono" watches. Also known as "Rego" usually caliber 135 or 144

The buttons are to start and stop the balance only. They are one jewel, poorly finished, but charming watches.

They are usually seen under the brand "Basis"

They are fun to have and look nice, but that's about it.

Here are some I have within reach:











Some I've had in the past (they really do look nice for being so cheap...)

 

Yeah dont have a lot in it, paid just about USD$10.00 for it, mostly out of curiosity, should have bought the Lemania that was closing at the same time for about $320.00

 

Interesting to see the movements. Using as a timer for any length of time would screw up the time keeping due to stopping the whole watch running. I presume you would just time short increments and it wouldn't matter too much.

The Helvetia 'Stop' 822 movement uses an almost as simple but more elegant process. By pressing the button top left the two train wheels at the top are moved upwards and disengage from the centre seconds wheel to stop the seconds hand.

 

Thats really cool, and it has real jewels in more than one place lol