An exceptional and rare Wittnauer chronograph from the heydays of watchmaking. Wittnauer was a sister company to Longines, marketing Longines watches in the US and selling top watches of their own. This chronograph has all the desirable features of vintage chronographs from the 40s-50s. It has a beautifully patinated dial, flawless blued baton and lollipop hands, two large registers, very clean san-serif numerals, what appears to be an unpolished case, and a killer movement, the Valjoux 23 (a predecessor to the Valjoux 72 with the 2-register elegance of Longines). I has the watch serviced by AB Watch repair just last year, so you are dealing with a trouble free watch. A small issue is with the patina, which is more greyish between 12 and 1. I am not sure if it is really an issue; patina is patina. The watch some in a nice 36mm with 19mm wide lugs. For many vintage watch lovers, 35-38mm is the sweet spot in terms of size. The cherry on top: it is a rare model (my search has failed to bring up another one like it).
Case: Stainless steel.
Dimensions: 36mm without crown, 38mm with crown, 19mm lug width, 42.5mm lug-to-lug, 12mm thickness.
Dial: Original with yellow patina and some spots of grayish shade (see pictures). Black san serif numerals.
Hands: Very clean blued baton hands. Lovely lollipop chrono hand.
Caseback markings: Wittnauer Watch Co Inc SWISS, Stainless Steel, 45 20045.
Dust inside caseback.
Movement: Valjoux 23 in excellent condition. Movement serviced by AB watch Repair in 2016 for a cost of $450 (with the crystal changed). Markings- Seventeen 17 Jewels, Wittnauer Watch Co INC, Unadjusted, 22, Swiss, AXA (import mark).
Strap: Leather strap in gray-stone color (some would call it taupe). Purchased from ItalianStrap (maker of straps for Hodinkee, Bulang & Sons, and others) for 100 euros. It is now attached to a deployant buckle but I can replace it with a Tang buckle upon request.
To summarize, here is a rare opportunity to own a fantastic chronograph. It is as good as it gets in the vintage world.
No returns accepted unless I described the watch inaccurately.
Free shipping through ParcelPro to the US. Actual shipping costs will be charged for shipping abroad (probably around $100).
Note: I have edited my listing. I initially thought that it was a Valjoux 22 (the marking 22 on the movement mislead me) but it is the more sought after Valjoux 23 (a direct predecessor to the Valjoux 72). Thanks to David and another ebayer for pointing me in the right direction.