Arrivals, What Did You Buy Recently?(Watches)

It finally arrived. My Lemania 13CH has already featured as my Avatar for some time, but it took some time at the spa before making it back home.



Quite cool to send of a relatively neglected, early 1930s, chronograph to the watchmaker, and find that the movement only needed a lube, clean and a mainspring to function well again!
(Of course the gentle hand of a fine watchmaker is also key to success!)


I try from time to time to see if I can make out the watchmakers service marks in the casebacks. I already had a clue to where it had spent its time since I bought it from a guy in Berlin who again had inherited it from his grandfather.
There is (at least) two marks to be seen:



12.40? December 1940 I would guess. That would fit well with a "first" service interval.
The second one also kind of confirms that it also remained in the same area:


Having trouble reading the first name/word, but the last one surely is Berlin, and the 7.53 would fit well with August 1953.
No later marks was found, and so it is not unlikely that it has remained "untouched" until I picked it up earlier this summer.

When I bought it the case had a bad dent to one side. However as the case is solid silver (well actually a 0.900 quality) it could be remedied.

Mitka from WatchGuy contacted a local silversmith, and he did the repairs to the case. Carefully straightening and filling in the dent. Not to perfection, but to a degree consistent with the rest of the watch. Perfect IMO.

The Lemania 13CH would also be known to Omega collectors as the caliber 28.9CHRO. The first movement from Lemania built to be used only in wristwatch chronographs. It was launched in 1932. According to Omega they then used it as the 28.9 from 1933 and onwards.
It was delivered in parallel with the (originally pocket watch derived) caliber 15CH / 33.3.
The 33.3 was continued as the cal 222x for military watches way into the 1960s. The CH13 was replaced by the CH27 in 1942. Also known as cal 320/321.

I can assure you will see more of it😉!
Now to find a good 18mm open ended strap to fit......

Cool watch and a nice write up, oh and Dibs too! 😀

This just in from the UK:

I really like this piece and has considered it myself several times. Nice one!

This pretty decent Rodania two register chronograph incoming acquired at a very sweet price which is quite hard to do these days with quality chronographs.
The dial did it for me. That creamy patina is quite irresistible.
The seller claims the movement is a Landeron but I suspect this is a Venus 175. I have been on the hunt for Rodanias. They made very intersting and high quality chronographs that totally went under the radar (I hope it stays that way!).
This will be my 3rd Rodania chronograph and quite happy about it. Sellers pics...

Very nice! I own a couple of Rodania divers, and they are also underrated.