One other Friday, one other checklist! This week, we proceed our exploration of legendary actions. For this checklist, now we have chosen 5 classics with the well-known Valjoux 72. As you will note, this chronograph caliber powered among the most legendary watches that horology followers love. That’s why creating an inventory of the 5 standout Valjoux 72-powered watches is smart. Let’s test them out!
The historical past of the Valjoux 72 and the Valjoux 23 that the previous was based mostly on is most undoubtedly value an article by itself. However as we talk about our high 5 watches powered by the motion, let’s persist with some fast details. The Valjoux 23 debuted in 1916 and was an enormous success for the motion producer based by John and Charles Reymond in 1901. The Valjoux 23, or VZ23, is a two-register chronograph caliber that was the bottom for a lot of different actions over the next a long time. The usual format featured working seconds at 9 o’clock and a 30-minute or 45-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock.
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The start of the Valjoux 72 in 1938
In 1938, Valjoux added a 12-hour totalizer at 6 o’clock, and the Valjoux 72 was born. This new caliber additionally served as a base motion for various variations. Well-known examples are the Valjoux 72C triple calendar and the Valjoux 88 with an added moonphase indicator. The Valjoux 72 was in manufacturing till the late Sixties earlier than it acquired a notable replace. The corporate elevated its operation frequency from 18,000 to 21,600 beats per hour, ensuing within the Valjoux 726. Over the a long time, the Valjoux 23 and 72 grew to become fashionable calibers for a lot of nice chronographs. As you will note on this checklist, some very prestigious watchmakers used these actions for his or her well-known chronographs. That’s additionally what makes them extremely fascinating for collectors. Now, with out additional ado, let’s check out 5 of our favorites.
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Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
The watch that made the Valjoux 72 well-known with a big viewers was the Rolex Daytona. All of the manual-winding Rolex Daytonas, from the primary in 1963 to the final references within the late Nineteen Eighties, have been powered by the Valjoux 72B or a by-product of it. The primary Daytona ref. 6239 from 1963 featured a black dial with silver sub-dials. A enjoyable truth is that the primary fashions didn’t function the Daytona identify.
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Rolex initially referred to as the watch Le Mans, however that identify didn’t appear acceptable for conquering the American market. Because of the model’s sponsorship of the 24-hour race at Daytona, that situation was solved, and from 1964 on, it was referred to as the Daytona.
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The preliminary Daytonas have been powered by the Valjoux 72B, and shortly after, the model began utilizing the Valjoux 722. With the introduction of the ref. 6262 and 6264 in 1969, Rolex additionally began utilizing up to date actions. The Valjoux 727, which was used till the tip of the Nineteen Eighties, elevated the operation frequency from 18,000 to 21,000 vibrations per hour.
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Consequently, the brand new motion was additionally rather more correct. Rolex modified the motion, changing 15 elements, screws, and associated clamps. General, the Valjoux 72-derived actions powered the Daytona from 1963 till 1988, a powerful 25-year run.
Picture: Fred Mandelbaum
Breitling Navitimer “Pre-806”
In 1954, Breitling launched its now-famous Navitimer as a succesful pilot’s watch created for the Plane House owners and Pilots Affiliation (AOPA). The watch didn’t get the official reference 806 till a yr later. Most of you’ll know that the Navitimer’s capabilities with a slide rule and a three-register chronograph have been impressed by the model’s Forties Chronomat ref. 786. However whereas that was a 36mm watch, on the time of introduction, the 40mm Navitimer was thought-about big. Nonetheless, that additionally got here with the territory because the watch was supposed to be legible and practical within the cockpit.
Picture: Fred Mandelbaum
The early Navitimers from 1954 have been powered by Valjoux 72 actions and are referred to as the “Pre-806” fashions. They’re very uncommon and, as you’d count on, fetch high greenback at auctions and after they come up on the market. Only a yr after the introduction of the Navitimer, Breitling switched to the Venus 178 motion. Realizing that manufacturing numbers have been nowhere close to as excessive as they’re these days, you possibly can think about how scarce these early Valjoux 72-powered Navitimers are. This solely makes them extra sought-after by collectors. Count on to see costs beginning at €20,000 and shortly rising for one in good situation.
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Heuer Carrera ref. 2447
On the subject of Heuer, there are a number of fashions with the Valjoux 72 to select from. The well-known Autavia 2446M “Jochen Rindt” is a good instance, and so is the sensible Camaro 7220 NT. However we opted for the legendary Heuer Carrera 2447, which began the Carrera legacy in 1963. The 2447 was in manufacturing till the late Sixties, and through that point, the model created no fewer than 30 variations of it.
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So I recommend you do your homework if you’re excited about one in all these watches. Mike wrote an excellent article in 2015 on the ref. 2447S that he purchased for his dad. It’s the unique model with a crisp silver/white dial, as seen two photos up. It’s laborious to beat these tremendous clear seems to be together with the 36mm case.
Picture: Analog/Shift
A lot of additionally, you will know the beautiful ref. 2447N, which has a black dial with black registers and a white ring on the periphery for the seconds scale. I really like that particular execution as a result of it has a brilliant cool look that you simply don’t typically see. All the Carrera 2447 variants produced till 1970 have been powered by the Valjoux 72.
Picture: Bulang & Sons
These lovely first-reference Carreras are value trying out. You will note that one might be yours beginning at lower than €5K these days. However as all the time, those in good situation can simply value €10K.
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Common Genève Compax “Nina Rindt”
One other illustrious duo of Valjoux 72-powered chronographs is the Common Genève Compax “Nina Rindt” and Compax “Evil Nina.” Each are sports activities chronographs nicknamed after Nina Rindt, the spouse of well-known Components 1 racing driver Jochen Rindt. She typically wore the panda-dial model, a present from her husband, on a big Bund strap.
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The watch was in manufacturing from 1964 to 1967 and featured a 36mm stainless-steel case with lovely lyre lugs. The model produced two dial colours. The primary is the model with reference quantity 885.103/2. This mannequin, referred to as the “Nina Rindt,” incorporates a white dial and black registers.
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The second mannequin, reference 885.103/1, is called the “Evil Nina,” and it incorporates a black dial and white registers. On high of that, it has a big, brilliant pink central chronograph hand for a pleasant little bit of shade. To the untrained eye, the Common Genève Nina Rindt generally seems to be like a Rolex Daytona. It is smart, however there are fairly a couple of variations. The palms are the moment giveaway. Simply take a look at the small palms used for the registers on the white-dial model. They appear far too blocky for the dimensions of the sub-dials. The Evil Nina mannequin has rather more refined palms for the registers.
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Common Genève made completely different bezels for these watches, together with tachymeter and pulsometer variants. After all, the watches have been powered by the well-known Valjoux 72 motion with its three-register format. If you wish to know extra, I recommend you learn Mike’s detailed story concerning the Evil Nina. As these are uncommon birds, count on to see costs begin at roughly €15K and transfer as much as €20K simply.
Enicar Sherpa Graph
Lastly, now we have the Enicar Sherpa Graph. It’s one other legendary chronograph that’s enjoyable to examine. Mike owns a “Jim Clark” model (see above), and he wrote a pleasant story about it in 2015, so I recommend you learn that. The Sherpa Graph debuted in 1960 and was in manufacturing for 10 years. Throughout that decade, the legendary model produced a number of variations of the watch with completely different dial colours.
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As well as, the hand type additionally modified over time to match the instances. What ties these watches collectively is their tremendous fashionable presence outlined by a ravishing 40mm case and superbly designed dials in numerous colours.
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I like the gray-dial model Jim Clark wore on a white Tropic strap. A number of well-known racing drivers wore Enicar watches, together with Stirling Moss, Eric Carlsson, and Gerhard Mitter. The “Jim Clark” model that Mike owns has a ravishing black dial with the tachymeter printed in black on a white background and skinny hour and minute palms with wider rectangular lume plots. Stirling Moss was the model’s driver for early adverts for the Sherpa Graph Mk1 with the attribute sword-style palms.
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Contained in the 40mm case, as you’d count on, lies the Valjoux 72 that powers all the opposite watches on this checklist. As a result of this Enicar Sherpa Graph is a uncommon watch, particularly the Mk1 variations, count on steep costs. Going charges for the later variations begin at roughly €6.5K, however early fashions in good situation can promote for €15K. What you get in return is likely one of the most fashionable chronographs powered by the legendary Valjoux 72 motion.
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Ultimate ideas on our checklist of Valjoux 72-powered classics
There you might have it — 5 watches powered by the legendary Valjoux 72. And as a few of you recognize, that’s simply the tip of the iceberg. There are watches from famend manufacturers, akin to Longines, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Jaeger-LeCoultre, powered by actions based mostly on the Valjoux 23 and 72 calibers. It makes it nice enjoyable to analysis extra watches than the 5 we picked, however we love all 5 of our selections at present. And as a lot as we do, we’re interested by which one you want greatest. Tell us your favourite within the feedback, and we are going to see you once more for a brand new checklist subsequent week.
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