For sale we have a 1940s Oversized 36mm Stainless Steel Chronograph watch, made by Eweco. It has a Landeron 48 movement which has been recently serviced by us.
Eweco are one of many Swiss brands that have been lost in history. Little can be found about the brand, but watches by Eweco can be in the Scandinavian market. This is owing to their marketing and subsequent popularity in the country over the 40s, 50s and 60s. They likely ceased to exist in the 1970s, one of many victims of the Quartz crisis.
One thing that can be said with certainty, is that this watch is a very well made, designed and charming piece with practical application. It would not have been cheap in the 1940s and represents a fine and interesting watch to grace a vintage collection.
No expensive was spared on this chronograph. The case is oversized at 36mm and is made of Stainless-Steel, still uncommon outside of top manufacturers in the 1940s. There are a host of other features not always found during this period. It has a Stainless-Steel screw back which helps to ensure the watch was waterproof, the Landeron 48 movement calibre has Incabloc shock proofing, the dial is aesthetically appealing and has practical application with the Telemetre and Tachymetre scale.
The watch has a number of lovely pieces of design that encompass the best of early 1940s Chronographs. The technical dial still maintains aesthetic touches such as the silver tone ring around the dial. This shines in the light and is very eye-catching. The thermally blued syringe style hands have the original Radium lume in-fill which has aged to a pumpkin tone.
The oversized case has a neat bezel design and flat circular main face of the top of the case. This creates a near Tre Tacche design.
Combining the above features and the considered design aspects we have an excellent watch on our hands.
The telemetre scale is a less common measurement system on a Chronograph dial. The telemetre scale is in km’s and allows approximation of the distance to an event, that can be both seen and heard (e.g. a lightening bold or a torpedo strike) using the speed of sound. Application of such watches was mountaineering
The Tachymetric scale in the centre of the dial is used for speed measurement. If you were to start the chronograph while the vehicle you are in passes a certain point. When you pass the distance of 1000 units, you stop the chronograph and the number on the end of the second hand of the chronograph gives you the average speed of the vehicle.
The watch comes on a Black New Old Stock Apollo Real Crocodile strap. Apollo manufactured good quality watch straps in Great Britain. It will fit up to an 8.5” wrist.
The movement is a Landeron 48. This is a manual wind Chronograph movement from the 1940s. It has a jewel count of 17, a frequency of 18000 BPH and a power reserve of 41 hours. It has shock protection which is a bonus during this era. It has a chronograph central second, a constant second register and a 30-minute register. The top pusher starts the chronograph second, whilst the bottom stops and resets.
The movement has been recently serviced by us. It is keeping time to within +10 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 300 degrees and a beat error of 0.2m/s.
Dial:
The dial has a silver satin base tone which has a subtle, even shine. The main sections of the dial are inside a circular, silver ring. This shines in the light and is a charming and eye-catching aspect of the dial. On the outer section of the dial, there is a Telemetre scale in KMs.
Inside the silver ring is the detailed minutes/seconds track with 1/5th second graduations. It also has the 24-hour numerals marked. The hour markers are large and clear Arabic numerals with the original radium lume in-fill.
There is a sub-second dial at 9 O’clock, with a 30-minute counter at 3 O’clock. To the centre of the dial is the Tachymetric scale for calculating speed. It is signed Eweco, Waterproof, Incabloc, Antimagnetique.
Hands:
The hands are all original and are in good condition. The hour and minute hand are thermally blued and are of syringe style. They have the original Radium lume infill. The central second hand is thermally blued and is lovely and simple. The sub-second hand is original as it the stylised 30 minute counter of arrow form.
Glass:
The crystal is an acrylic crystal. It has light surface scratches consistent with age, but no major scratches.
Crown and pushers
The crown is original and is formed of Stainless Steel. It is large and has a good coin edge finish. This is a functional crown which is easy to use.
It winds and sets as it should and is in excellent condition. The pushers are original and are in good condition.
Case:
The case is made of Stainless Steel and is in good original condition. It has not been refinished and has marks related to its age and usage. It is a circular shape of the 1940s. It has well-proportioned lugs with a bevelled edge. The bezel is slightly notched and raises to meet the crystal. It has a polished finish. The main section of the case is flat and circular, creating a Tre Tacche esque style. The sides have a brushed finish which has light surface scratching. The lugs are drilled, making for ease of spring bar removal.
Caseback:
The screwback is in good condition. It is in original condition and hasn’t been polished. It is signed; Stainless Steel, Waterproof, Anti-magnetic, Incabloc, Swiss made, Eweco. The engraving is clear.
Strap:
The watch comes on a Black New Old Stock Apollo Real Crocodile strap. Apollo manufactured good quality watch straps in Great Britain. It will fit up to an 8.5” wrist.
Movement:
The movement is a Landeron 48. This is a manual wind Chronograph movement from the 1940s. It has a jewel count of 17, a frequency of 18000 BPH and a power reserve of 41 hours. It has shock protection which is a bonus during this era. It has a chronograph central second, a constant second register and a 30 minute register.
The movement has been recently serviced by us. It is keeping time to within +10 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 300 degrees and a beat error of 0.2m/s.
Case dimensions:
Case width: 36mm
Case width with crown: 39.5mm
Case length: 36.5mm
Case length lug to lug: 43.5mm
Case Depth: 13.25mm
Lug width: 18mm