I now have a project Valjoux 72 Benrus Sky Chief and am hoping to get some inspiration to keep building it.

I feel like more than a few people are holding, let's see what you've got.

I'll start with a shot of my orphan and a not so subtle request - If you have a mid-case for a V72 Sky Chief, please reach out to me.

 

No joy on a VJ72 mid case with me. That dial looks quite nice. Good luck with the hunt!

I’m sure you know this - but do be careful with the lume. Presumably it is radium, and is hazardous if not dealt with correctly. I hope the missing bits of lume from the minute hand have been safely accounted for.

Mine below is a Venus 178 powered version. Most of these Sky Chiefs have open pushers and are as waterproof as a saltine cracker. The paperwork that came with this particular watch advises the owner not to even wash one’s hands while wearing it.

 

Always wanted one of these- should have pulled the trigger when they were $500 all day long.

 

This is the other Sky-Chief, the jumbo Valjoux 71 version with rotating pointer bezel. Incorrect sweep hand.

 

There is a great thread on these somewhere here.

killer watches.

 

Venus 178, now ready for duty

 

My two favorite Benrus

 

Is there an iconic watch you don’t have @maanu ?!?

They both are on stunning condition

 

I think it was a coincidence that we were on same thread. There are a lot of watches I don’t have.

 

I looked, I only found a few sales listings? Maybe I missed it.

 

Beautiful piece.

And yep, well aware of the Radium, It was gone before I received the watch, but have been careful with the handling and rodico'd any debris I saw on the dial. It's being stored in a closed container until I can find the case.

And yeah, I've read that most of the brown patina on these is because of water. I'm surprised how clean this is for being out in the wild for some unknown amount of time. Even the movement is damage free.

 

Amazing. I do wish the other versions were large too, but I've heard the case thickness make it wear larger.

I haven't seen a reason stated anywhere for the red pointer. What was is for? World Time?

 

how about when they could be found for $100 to $200 any weekend at the flea markets in NYC? Yea I'm a dunce as I don't have one.

 

Yes, I too wish I was fishing for mechanical watches more consistently back then. But children/family, business and cars beckoned a bit stronger.

 

Gilt
Val 72




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A follow up! And a good one!

Was able to hunt down a case without spending a fortune and make it whole. I ended up reluming the hands and taking the rust off. The skeleton minute hand was too asymmetric for me.

These things have so much character.