A truly stunning and remarkably rare vintage chronograph by Tissot featuring a wonderful original two-tone grey/white tachometer dial in a solid stainless steel case with olive pushers and the famous Lemania caliber 28.9 movement within, only produced for 11 years between 1932 and 1943 in very limited numbers. This incredibly small chrono caliber powered the very first wrist-worn chronographs manufactured and marketed by Tissot/Omega/Lemania mainly for use by pilots or sportsman and is the predecessor to the later, larger calibers 33.3/15CH then the 321 and 861 used in Omega's famous NASA qualified Speedmaster series. Akin to a rookie card in sport, this is where it all began for Tissot/Omega/Lemania when it came to wearing a time-recording device on your wrist and therefore holds with esteem a very special place in horological history. The example you see here has a beautifully designed 2-tone dial with outer tachometer and 1/5th seconds track printed in black on silver background with white roman numeral hours and sub-dials printed on grey. Over the years it has naturally faded and patinaed now with a wonderful vintage feel, what collectors call a "tropic" look. The case is 33mm in diameter with very strong faceted lugs and olive shape chronograph pushers (the same case found on many Omega models of the same era). The movement is also in wonderful cosmetic and mechanical condition, freshly serviced by our watchmaker and keeping great time with all chronograph functions working as they are intended. It is sold on a perfectly matched 18mm new old stock vintage "Saddle Leather" strap. An extremely rare and important piece of Tissot/Omega/Lemania timekeeping history in all original condition.
Circa: 1942
Style: Sport, Aviation
Case: Solid Staybrite stainless steel case measuring 33mm in diameter excluding the original crown and olive shape pushers. Hand engraved with a presentation inscription dating to 1942 and placing the original owner of the watch in Ontario, Canada. Signed inside the back Acier Staybrite, Tissot Fab. Suisse, Swiss Made. Excellent unpolished condition with even signs of wear throughout, original brush finish on the sides of the bezel and bold faceted lugs. Comes on a nicely matched 18mm new old stock vintage grey saddle leather strap.
Dial: Original factory printed two tone dial with silver and grey background, outer tachometer track and roman numeral hour markers. Lovely even patina, naturally aged with some light spotting around the outer edge and fading on the inner portion. Signed Tissot, Swiss Made. The original hands are painted white with some ageing consistent with the dial.
Movement: Superb quality Lemania calibre 28.9 T2 manually wound 30-minute recording chronograph movement in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition, freshly service and keeping great time. Light patina is visible on the movement plates and most levers and spring looking very sharp with little discoloration. Signed Tissot, 17 Jewels, Swiss Made.