Description
Before the advent of quartz technology the Bulova Accutron was killing the accuracy claims of the Swiss watch industry, so the largest Swiss watch movement maker, Ebauches SA (ESA) did the smart thing and licensed the technology from Bulova. ESA made several versions of the three hand movement; time only, or with date or both day and date. Then, in 1971, they approached the famed chronograph maker Dubois-Dépraz to produce a chronograph module which could be bolted on to the three hand movement. D-D were fresh from their success in developing the chronograph module for the Heuer/Breitling/Hamilton Chronomatic and gladly accepted the challenge. In record time they produced a three register module complete with vertical clutch. Because the chronograph module fitted between the dial and the ESA movement, if they had used the ESA date indicators it would have meant that they were deep inside the movement and looking at the date would have been like looking down a tunnel. So they developed their own Day/Date mechanism, which brought these indicators directly under the dial, thus making them easily read.
The only disadvantage of the modular construction is that the pushers sit on a higher plane than the winding crown, giving the watch an unbalanced look from the side. However this didn’t seem to be a problem for Omega who used this movement is their ‘Lobster” Speedsonic chronograph.
Ebauches SA (as their name indicates) were a movement manufacturer who sold these movements to many watch firms, but never sold complete watches under their own name, as this would have put them into competition with their clients – not a good business plan. So, what are we to make of this unusual watch which unsigned on the case, movement and dial? It is a prototype, produced by ESA to show their clients what a functioning watch, using the new movement, would look like
The case is a classic elongated circle with a sunburst brushed finish on the top of the case and a polished rim around the dial, polished case band with the pushers encircled almost of this firm, the model number they called this movement and, sometimes, the serial number. The movement was used by Longines, Certina, Universal, Tissot, Eterna and (of course) Omega. There are probably lots more, too.
The movement is marked “12 jewels” and “Unadjusted”; the purely mechanical chronograph module is, due to height constraints, operated by heart shaped cams, rather than the classic column wheel, although it does have a vertical clutch, at least.
But the outstanding feature of this watch is the dial, sunburst silver with three registers in a bright blue which hovers in the space between Yves Klein Blue and French racing blue, if the colour of the registers wasn’t enough – they have classic “Paul Newman” style indices – completely in the case band whilst the crown sits below, half in the case band and half in the sloping case side, it has a screw back and no visible lug
The movement has 45° angled Geneva stripes, visible coils and a recess in the main plate where plaque would be attached by the company who sold the finished watch, this plaque would have the name
Arabic numerals, squares and bars, all in bright white paint. To pile even more 1970s style on to the dial, the registers are in a previously unseen shape; square, but with domed tops and bottoms.
The case is 95%; the dial is 95% and the movement is 95+%.
Diameter 36mm; Lug to Lug 42mm; Height 10mm., and a black leather strap is fitted.
£1,750.00 (approx. $2,250.00)
