1950s Wittnauer Chronograph watch, Stainless Steel, Venus 188 movement, recently serviced.
 
This is a beautiful example of a classy Wittnauer Chronograph from the 1950s. The 35mm case is well sized for a vintage chronograph and has a sturdy and handsome Stainless Steel case.
 
Recently serviced, It is keeping time to within -50 seconds a day.
 
Despite the common association with chronograph watches and motor racing, Wittnauer were well known for providing watches and instruments to aid the wearer during exploration or scientific endeavours. During WW1 the New York based brands watches and instruments were often used in early aviation units.
The Wittnauer “Allproof” was one such example and was worn by Jimmie Mattern in his 1933 attempt to fly around the world in his Vega 5B. Neil Armstrong also donned an Allproof during the Gemini 8 mission. In 1932 Amelia Earhart made the first solo flight across the Atlantic in her Lockheed Vega-5B equipped with Wittnauer instruments.
 
With the help of a Longines movement, the brand were in contention for the watch to be worn in the first moon mission alongside the Rolex Daytona and the subsequent winner, the Omega Speedmaster. In the 50s the brand were bought out by Longines who continued the brand, maintaining separate factories.
 
The dial has a Telemeter graduation around the outside. A telemeter enables you to establish your distance from an event or phenomenon that is both visible and audible. The most common example would be distance from the centre of a lightning storm.
 
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
 
Dial: 
An original dial with no wear to the writing. Slight speckled patina which is even, along with a slight patina surrounding the text, due to diffusion. A small circular marking close to where the hands meet the pinion.
 
Hands: 
The hands are original and have no signs of wear or corrosion. Beautiful silver toned hands, with thermally blued sub second hands and chronograph hand.
 
Glass: 
The crystal has is new and in perfect condition.
 
Crown: 
The crown is original and has a very clean coin edge. It is in very good condition.
 
Pushers: 
They are in good condition, with correct original ends. The lower section is chrome and has suffered some corrosion.
 
Case: 
The case is made of stainless steel and is in good condition for the age, with multiple light surface scratches but no deep scratches or nicks.
 
Caseback:
The case back It is made of stainless steel and is in good condition with only light surface scratches, maintaining some of it's original graining.
 
Strap: 
A new 18mm genuine leather strap from watch Gekota with a Suede finish, with quick release springbars.
 
Movement:
A recently serviced Venus 188 movement, with a 17 jewels and Incabloc shock protection. Keeping time to -50 seconds a day with an amplitude of 309 degrees and a beat error of 0.8m/s.
 
Case dimensions 
Case width: 35mm
Case width with crown: 38mm
Case length: 35mm
Case length lug to lug: 44mm
Case Depth: 13mm
Lug width: 18mm