just got an extract for a Connie from 1962. Got this remark.

What exactly is a bulletin officiel?

 

What he said.

 

One of the first watches with an upgraded or improved part within?

 

Presumably a Chronometre "Bulletin de Marche" confirming its status, and results.

 

Best I could find was an image posted by @gatorcpa on WUS (13 years ago!) and a pic of a cert in French.
No idea why this would be listed under remarks on an extract though, as all Connies (up to a point in the 70s) would be supplied with a chronometer cert.

 

Not quite correct:
I think there is a difference if you get a bulletin the marche with the watch which was issued from an observatory or if you get a simple chronometer certificate which was issued from a bureau of control which is much more common.
A bulletin de marche from an observatory is the one to go for and this would add considerably to the value - in case it were still with the watch of course. A mention in the extract is not enough as we can assume...

 

Ah! Mea culpa
The pics I posted above state that the watch has received a bulletin.
As opposed to actually receiving the bulletin itself.

 

How many foreign cases watches got a chrono cert?

This may be a stupid question, but I thought they where tested in the case.

 

Which observatory would have done it in 1962. I requested (and got) one from Besancon for my marine chronometer from 1975. Might be interesting to request a copy!

 

And here is the watch in question. The irony of the dial not saying Officially Certified is not lost on me.

 

any more thoughts from the experts here on trying to get a copy of a Bulletin Officiel?

 

You mean for your particular watch? Unlikely I'd say. Even COSC only keeps the records for 10 years and then they aren't available any longer, you have to have it run through the tests again. The records for a 1962 test are probably long gone, especially since you don't know who did the testing.

 

A mystery that will never be solved...how frustrating!
If I could confirm the observatory ( as I did with the MC) I could approach them and see if they would issue it but, as you say, extremely unlikely now.

 

I believe most observatory grade movements from that period have a white rubie trough which " supposedly " a watchmaker could check the quality of the lube .

You can see it in Omega CK 2254 also.In Rolex speedking kew A.

Good luck

 

Between Neuchatel and Besançon, you would have at least two leads to start your investigation with. Did you ever try?
And Omega could not provide any additional info!?

 

The use of clear (or "white") rubies was random - I have found a cal. 30 Rg which had a clear jewel in the pallet cock whis is not unusual
but had 4 (four!) clear (=white) additional rubies - but on the dial side - so what for?

For those who have my book - it is shown there in a picture on page 85 titled "Small Peculiarities"