2021 BHI Prize award – Best serviced chronograph watch

BHI prize best serviced chronograph

I am very proud to see my name again amongst the prize winners in the official journal of the British Horological Institute. I was awarded the ‘Best Serviced Chronograph Watch’ BHI prize for 2021. With a grade of 99% following the two-day practical exam, I could not be happier 🙂. Your chronograph is in good hands!
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All the best
Olivier

Waltham Chronograph Valjoux 7733 – Service

On the blog today is a vintage Chronograph by American watch company Waltham. It is powered by a Valjoux 7733. “Valjoux” was a manufacturer named after the “Vallee du Joux” in Switzerland, primarily known for its Ebauche Chronograph movements, and widely used by many manufacturers in the 1970’s. The Valjoux 7733 is a cam type Chronograph (as opposed to Column wheel type), with a horizontal clutch mechanism. It was produced in very large numbers, and over the years has earned itself a well deserved reputation for reliability and robustness.

Waltham Valjoux 7733

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Silver Pocket Watch Chronograph

Oliver sent me this lovely pocket watch for a service. It is in a silver case, and has a chronograph complication, with a centre seconds chrono hand and 30 minute register. There is also a seconds subdial at 6 o’clock.

The case and movement have a matching serial number, so it is nice to know that the movement is original to the watch.

After studying the hallmarks on the silver case, I was able to identify the marks of the London assay office used in 1913-1914, so the watch would have been produced around that time. The “sponsors mark” belongs to George Stockwell, who was an importer of cases and watches during that era. Service-Pocket-Chronograph

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Omega Speedmaster 175.0032.1 “Reduced” Calibre 3220 (Dubois Depraz) – Service & Repair

Today I am featuring this Speedmaster 1750032.1. It is the little cousin of the Speedmaster professional “Moonwatch”.  It is similar in appearance, but slightly smaller at 39mm in diameter, which earned it its nickname “reduced”. It is however functionally very different, being an automatic watch rather than a manual wind: it is powered by Omega’s calibre 3220, which is based on an ETA 2892 ebauche with a Dubois Depraz Chronograph module.

The watch came in a very sorry condition, missing its stem and a pusher. I was expecting a replacement of the missing parts and a straightforward service. It turned out to be a very challenging project indeed.

Omega Speedmaster Repair

 

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