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  1. cristos71 Jul 14, 2014

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    Today being the 14th of July, which is the French National Day, a holiday to celebrate the storming of the Bastille in 1789. A date that proved to be the beginning of the French Revolution and the first step towards the creation of a republic.

    I have been fortunate to pick these two chronographs up just recently and as they were both originally for the French market I thought today a suitable day for a few pictures.

    The newest arrival and oldest, with a 9.3 million serial number, is powered by the 27 CHRO C12 movement. This movement introduced in 1942 would a few years later in 1946, after various adjustments, become the famous calibre 321. This one has a snap back case, an interesting multi coloured dial with various scales and plume hands.


    010.JPG

    The younger model with a 12.4 million serial number is from about 1950 and powered by a 321 calibre. This one has a much more substantial screw back waterproof case, leaf hands and simple dial with tachymetre scale.

    008.JPG

    What I find charming about them are the extra import dial markings that the French insisted upon, Fab. Suisse and Importe de Suisse, it gives them a little something extra, a little je ne sais quoi!

    017.JPG

    021.JPG

    Amusez-vous!
     
  2. cicindela Steve @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 14, 2014

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    :thumbsup:
     
  3. LouS Mrs Nataf's Other Son Staff Member Jul 14, 2014

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    What great pieces to contemplate over breakfast. Allons enfants de la patrie!
     
  4. MSNWatch Vintage Omega Aficionado Staff Member Jul 14, 2014

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    Both look nice but special kudos to the one with the complicated dial - as you surely know these are rarely found associated with the cal. 321 movement.
     
  5. cicindela Steve @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 14, 2014

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    Yes , I picture sitting for breakfast in a small hotel restaurant in Alsace and Cristos comes up, "I brought those watches we spoke of to show you mon ami",

    les enfants de la joie
     
  6. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 14, 2014

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    Very cool, what's the diameter of the new one, it looks very substantial.
     
  7. RCAFBuster Jul 14, 2014

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    Magnifique!
     
  8. NT931 Jul 14, 2014

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    Stunning watches, especially the one on the left !
     
  9. speedy4ever Moonwatch Only Author Jul 14, 2014

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    Here's the cousin, with other scales and no 'Fab en Suisse' marking. Also in 9.3 million, most probably the first batch ever.
    congrats!!

    image.jpg
     
  10. cristos71 Jul 14, 2014

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    More petit than substantial at about 35mm ex. But very wearable indeed!
     
  11. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 14, 2014

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    Oh really it must just be the bezel and concentric rings in the dial making it look big.
     
  12. speedy4ever Moonwatch Only Author Jul 14, 2014

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    I confirm, it´s really small for my wrist...and scales are hardly readable
     
  13. cristos71 Jul 14, 2014

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    Nice! Lets see who has the oldest... mine´s 9393365.

    I found it tricky to date as the serial table I normally use has a gap that stops in 1939 with 9 mil and starts again in 1945 with 10 mil.

    Only after reading up a bit about the exact introduction date being 1942 for the 27 CHRO did I deduce that that was the probably also the production year of my watch too.

    Do you have any more info on this?
     
  14. cristos71 Jul 14, 2014

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    The magic of the Macro;)
     
  15. speedy4ever Moonwatch Only Author Jul 14, 2014

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    You lost ;)

    mine is in the first block of 600 (9.391.21x, pictured in Moonwatch Only), yours is in the second (according to info I was able to gather at the archives), but probably made at the same time. As for all Lemania calibres, information is missing about watches, but there was information about movement production. Time was too short to investigate more.
     
  16. cristos71 Jul 14, 2014

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    Damn! Cafe au lait en coissants are on me next time then :)
     
  17. MSNWatch Vintage Omega Aficionado Staff Member Jul 14, 2014

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    Good to know - I should check the serials on my early 27 CHRO chronographs.
     
  18. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 14, 2014

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    Would be interesting to find out where exactly that watch does fit in, as being French market during that period it could be German occupied France that it was delivered to. Its right in that middle range that would fit and make it rather historically interesting.
     
  19. cristos71 Jul 14, 2014

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    Well 9 mil in 1939 and 10 mil in I think 1944 gives an average of 200,000 units per year which would put a 9.39 mil around 1942 production as a rough guess.

    Both of these watches are fresh to the market and have come to me, via different sources, from Belgium, which would lead me to speculate that they were originally owned by native French speakers.

    What that person was doing at that time in 1942 whereby they could afford a luxurious Swiss watch is anybody's guess, but it certainly makes wearing it now all the more enjoyable due to the important period that it comes from.
     
  20. Cortezthekiller Jul 14, 2014

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    Love the patina on the red Tele dial, makes the red and blue pop! And the green Pulse dial is fantastic as well. Dont see these as often in the forum. What is usual $ range for these '30s-'40s chronos?