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Quiet here today, so thought I would post this.
I bought this off the Bay yesterday (and it arrived today, which is nice, prompt service), and I am pretty pleased with it (I fear this may be somewhat of an understatement). So much so that I am also putting it up for cool wall status.
It is a Tissot Navigator chrono, with the Lemania 1343 movement and is the black dial version. I had been looking for one for quite a while. It is a simple, utilitarion-looking case, an uncluttered dial with only one-subdial for chrono-seconds, and of course my favourite, two centre-mounted chrono-hands. I am not sure if it is just me, but the chrono-minute hand reminds me a lot of Concorde.....
For me, although this is early 70's, this is a very timeless design as a result. At 41mm diameter and 45mm from lug to lug, it is also quite at home with todays larger watches.
Competition for examples on the fora (and E-Bay) seemed to have pushed the value up recently, but somehow I ended up being the sole bidder on it (maybe because the auction ended on a Monday morning).
Seller photos were a little blurred, and the description almost non-existant, but what little I could see looked straight so I thought it was worth the punt. IMHO it definitely is.
The condition is almost exemplary. The sunburst finishing to the front of the case is complete, and once cleaned, the polished sections are also great.
The dial is almost perfect, as are the hands. No lume flake, rust, discoloration or anything. The hands are also the later Omega-pattern ones (which I prefer), rather than the earlier square-ended ones.
It seems to be working fine, and the chrono-reset is bang on 12.
The crown is unmarked, but research has yet to tell me whether this is wrong or not (other examples seem to have both). Also, the caseback has had any markings ground out and replaced with a brushed finish, though a glance at the inside reveals it is genuine. These may be important details to some, but don't worry me that much.
I also had a peak at the movement, and it is in perfect nick. Really.
This watch is 33 years old (or thereabouts), but with the design and the condition, you would never know it.
So, having put it on one of Alistair's Orange-stitched straps, here are some photos.
  
Overall, you could say that this is a keeper. Which it is.
As an aside Al, I notice that the new range of straps (which I am very much looking forward to) may not include an orange-stitched version.
I would gladly buy another couple of them, as the one I have seems to be rotating onto most of the watches I wear at the moment.
I also only get good comments about the strap when I have posted photos. Al, can I ask that you have a think about including orange stitching in the range? There are an awful lot of orange-handed chronos out there that the stitching picks out........
So, back to the cool wall. Whilst we are on the subject of orange, are we talking "The juice", "Tasty, but made from concentrate" or "pith awful"
Now I know that this is not one of the iconic models that currently reside in the Uber-gallery, but I thought it was worth the punt
Cheers gents
DaveS |