For sale we have a beautiful example of a circa 1950 Aureus Datofix triple date moonphase watch for the Portuguese market. It is a Record watch model, with Aureus branding. It has a Record cal 107 movement inside. The 33mm chrome case has fancy lug design which adds to the presence and ornate design of the watch. The dial tone is a rarely seen on the Datofix range, being a Salmon tone. It has tropicalized patination and has developed into a bronze tone which is very appealing. The moonphase disc has also developed the same ageing, becoming a slight rose gold tone.
The dial is the aspect that makes this watch so special. The balance of the Datofix dials is particularly pleasing aesthetically with two tight central sub-dials, one at 6 O’clock and the half window for moonphase at 12 O’clock. This stands out compared to the aperture design of the other triple date watches in the era.
As this was such an important part of the watches design, the mix of tones and finishing techniques used is also excellent. It has a circular grained finish to the sub-dials, whilst the moonphase window has a gloss bevelled finish. The centre has a lightly brushed satin finish, with a cream chapter ring surrounding it. This has Arabic hour markers, with alternating raised gold tone hour plots. Another salmon/bronze ring flanks this, before the dial is neatly balanced with the cream tone date ring.
In the early 1950s Record was one of the few independent watch manufacturers to have an in-house movement calibre with triple date moonphase complication. By 1954 it is noted that only 8 independent watchmakers had their own triple calendar moonphase calibres, including Record, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Omega and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The Datofix model was listed by Record in 1949 and was advertised that year. They exhibited the watches at Basel Watch Fair in both 1949 and 1950. It is unusual for its placement of the moonphase at 12 O’clock, rather than 6 O’clock.
Antonio Moura was born in 1898, coming from a family of 10 brothers, from Gondomar, linked to the goldsmithing trade. In Lisbon, he joined A. Garcia Lda., who were dedicated to importing watch brands into Portugal in the first half of the century. He took over the company in 1921, changing the company name to Antonio Moura Lda. He cemented his position as the lead for Swiss watch imports into Portugal, employing watch repairers and creating facilities. The brands they imported included Omega, Longines, Tissot, Lanco, Swiza. They were responsible for the importation of Aureus watches too.
Little is known about the brand and it is assumed they only sold within the Portuguese market via Antonio Moura Lda. Aureus watches of the period seem to be only Record models, with Record calibres, but their own case, movement and dial signing.
The watch has the Portuguese import mark to the top lug on the left-hand side of the watch.
The watch comes with a Portuguese key ring address book, with the logo ‘A good Swiss watch, accessible to everyone’.
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
Dial:
The dial is original and is in good condition. It has tropicalised slightly with age. The signing is good and original. The moon disc has aged to a bronze tone that matches the dial.
Hands:
The hands are original and are a rose gold tone. The end of the date pointer hand is painted blue. The sub-dial hands are original. They have some light corrosion.
Glass:
The acrylic crystal is a replacement and is in good condition.
Crown and pushers:
The crown is original and is chrome plated. It has pitting with age. The pushers are original and good.
Case:
The case is chrome plated and is in average original condition. It has the original chrome finish and has not been refinished. The chrome finish has some pitting around the bezel. The sides of the case are good with the original brushed finish. The drilled lug holes are good with little wear. It has light surface scratching consistent with age.
Caseback:
The snap on case back is Stainless Steel and is in good for the age. It has light surface scratching. It has had the brushed finish re-done. The serial number is clear.
Strap:
The watch comes on an 18mm brown leather strap.
Movement:
The movement is a Record calibre 107. It is a 15-jewel manual wind movement.
It has day sub-dial, month sub-dial, date pointing hand and moonphase. It is balanced with sub-second at 6 O’clock.
The movement is in good condition and is working well, having been serviced by its last owner. It is keeping time to -50 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 280 degrees and a beat error of 0.8 m/s.
Case dimensions:
Case width: 33mm
Case width with crown: 35mm
Case length: 33mm
Lug to lug: 40.5mm
Depth: 10.5mm
Lug width: 18mm