1960s Wittnauer 242T Chronograph Valjoux 72
As far as watches go, the 242T has not only looks, but also an incredible story. Like the Speedmaster, the Ref. 242T is said to have been one of the three watches submitted to NASA for Qualification Test Procedures. Several of the great watch manufactures — Omega, Bulova, Wittnauer, and Rolex, to name a few — submitted watches for consideration in the Apollo space program. They were subjected to rigorous trials that pushed the watches to the very limit of their endurance.
The dial of the 242T is unique in that it has a chapter ring in decimal time, which breaks a 24-hour day into 10 decimal hours consisting of 100 decimal minutes, comprised of 100 decimal seconds. This had its uses in aviation and was also used by Gallet and Meylan on chronographs. It's an attractive alternative to the tachymetre bezels that adorned the Speedmaster and Navitimer.
Powered by the legendary Valjoux 72 manually-wound chronograph movement, this piece comes fitted to an original, Wittnauer-signed Beads of Rice Bracelet.
Make no mistake, this is one of the nicest example…IN THE WORLD.
Brand: Wittnauer
Model: 242T
Year: Circa 1962
Case:
38mm (Excluding Crown), 45mm Lug-to-Lug, and 20mm Lug Width
Stainless Steel
Movement: 17-Jewel Manual Winding Valjoux 72
Crystal: Acrylic Glass
Bracelet/ Strap: 20mm Signed Wittnauer Beads of Rice Bracelet
Features: A 38mm stainless steel case with barrel pushers, an acrylic crystal, and an unsigned crown and Beads of Rice Bracelet. Its signature feature is the classic 242T dial — matte black with Tritium lume and a matching handset with a three-register chronograph layout and a wildly cool chapter ring in decimal time, which breaks a 24-hour day into 10 decimal hours consisting of 100 decimal minutes, each comprised of 100 decimal seconds. This feature was useful in aviation, and is fairly rare in chronographs, making the 242T unique.
Box & Papers: No
Condition: The case is in excellent condition, showing light wear from age and use. Matte black tritium dial is in very good condition, showing even patination. The lume plots show a beautiful patina and have never been re-lumed. The original tritium hands have taken on a matching creamy, orange patina and have also never been re-lumed. As service history is unknown, a service is recommended in the near future.
As far as watches go, the 242T has not only looks, but also an incredible story. Like the Speedmaster, the Ref. 242T is said to have been one of the three watches submitted to NASA for Qualification Test Procedures. Several of the great watch manufactures — Omega, Bulova, Wittnauer, and Rolex, to name a few — submitted watches for consideration in the Apollo space program. They were subjected to rigorous trials that pushed the watches to the very limit of their endurance.
The dial of the 242T is unique in that it has a chapter ring in decimal time, which breaks a 24-hour day into 10 decimal hours consisting of 100 decimal minutes, comprised of 100 decimal seconds. This had its uses in aviation and was also used by Gallet and Meylan on chronographs. It's an attractive alternative to the tachymetre bezels that adorned the Speedmaster and Navitimer.
Powered by the legendary Valjoux 72 manually-wound chronograph movement, this piece comes fitted to an original, Wittnauer-signed Beads of Rice Bracelet.
Make no mistake, this is one of the nicest example…IN THE WORLD.
Brand: Wittnauer
Model: 242T
Year: Circa 1962
Case:
38mm (Excluding Crown), 45mm Lug-to-Lug, and 20mm Lug Width
Stainless Steel
Movement: 17-Jewel Manual Winding Valjoux 72
Crystal: Acrylic Glass
Bracelet/ Strap: 20mm Signed Wittnauer Beads of Rice Bracelet
Features: A 38mm stainless steel case with barrel pushers, an acrylic crystal, and an unsigned crown and Beads of Rice Bracelet. Its signature feature is the classic 242T dial — matte black with Tritium lume and a matching handset with a three-register chronograph layout and a wildly cool chapter ring in decimal time, which breaks a 24-hour day into 10 decimal hours consisting of 100 decimal minutes, each comprised of 100 decimal seconds. This feature was useful in aviation, and is fairly rare in chronographs, making the 242T unique.
Box & Papers: No
Condition: The case is in excellent condition, showing light wear from age and use. Matte black tritium dial is in very good condition, showing even patination. The lume plots show a beautiful patina and have never been re-lumed. The original tritium hands have taken on a matching creamy, orange patina and have also never been re-lumed. As service history is unknown, a service is recommended in the near future.
As far as watches go, the 242T has not only looks, but also an incredible story. Like the Speedmaster, the Ref. 242T is said to have been one of the three watches submitted to NASA for Qualification Test Procedures. Several of the great watch manufactures — Omega, Bulova, Wittnauer, and Rolex, to name a few — submitted watches for consideration in the Apollo space program. They were subjected to rigorous trials that pushed the watches to the very limit of their endurance.
The dial of the 242T is unique in that it has a chapter ring in decimal time, which breaks a 24-hour day into 10 decimal hours consisting of 100 decimal minutes, comprised of 100 decimal seconds. This had its uses in aviation and was also used by Gallet and Meylan on chronographs. It's an attractive alternative to the tachymetre bezels that adorned the Speedmaster and Navitimer.
Powered by the legendary Valjoux 72 manually-wound chronograph movement, this piece comes fitted to an original, Wittnauer-signed Beads of Rice Bracelet.
Make no mistake, this is one of the nicest example…IN THE WORLD.
Brand: Wittnauer
Model: 242T
Year: Circa 1962
Case:
38mm (Excluding Crown), 45mm Lug-to-Lug, and 20mm Lug Width
Stainless Steel
Movement: 17-Jewel Manual Winding Valjoux 72
Crystal: Acrylic Glass
Bracelet/ Strap: 20mm Signed Wittnauer Beads of Rice Bracelet
Features: A 38mm stainless steel case with barrel pushers, an acrylic crystal, and an unsigned crown and Beads of Rice Bracelet. Its signature feature is the classic 242T dial — matte black with Tritium lume and a matching handset with a three-register chronograph layout and a wildly cool chapter ring in decimal time, which breaks a 24-hour day into 10 decimal hours consisting of 100 decimal minutes, each comprised of 100 decimal seconds. This feature was useful in aviation, and is fairly rare in chronographs, making the 242T unique.
Box & Papers: No
Condition: The case is in excellent condition, showing light wear from age and use. Matte black tritium dial is in very good condition, showing even patination. The lume plots show a beautiful patina and have never been re-lumed. The original tritium hands have taken on a matching creamy, orange patina and have also never been re-lumed. As service history is unknown, a service is recommended in the near future.
