1950's Vintage Alsta Date-Chrono Watch Chronograph Landeron 159
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Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Alsta made beautifully-engineered high quality wristwatches for stylish men and women of intellectual and creative substance. People who required precision and robustness; scientists, engineers and industrialists as well as style-setters and the self-made. Alsta Watch Co succumbed in the late 1970s, along with many independent watchmakers, to the “quartz crisis” of the early 1970s which saw hundreds of watch and component manufacturers go out of business as the world feared the end of the road for quality wristwatches. Fortunately, mechanical watches survived.
Alsta, Le Jour and Yema were three brands that shared a lot in common, and often times, the exact same watch can be found with different logos on the dial. This chronograph is a model that is rarely seen, since it has date at 6 O'Clock not chronograph hours.
Landeron was a Swiss watch movement maker in Le Landeron famous for chronograph movements.
History
The company began in 1873, formed by Charles Alfred Hahn and his brother Aimé Auguste Hahn, and called Charles Hahn & Cie. They produced watches at first, but moved into watch movement production in the 1920's.
In 1924, Charles Hahn (son of the founder, who died in 1875), acquired the patents of Anatole Breitling and began producing chronograph movements. This movement production company took the name, Landeron. In 1925, Landeron merged with Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon (FHF), being renamed Fontainemelon et succursale du Landeron. FHF/Landeron became a founding member of Ebauches SA in 1926.
Landeron's column wheel chronograph movements were famous, and the company supplied these movements to many militaries. Examples include Cal. 11 and 13 and the state-of-the-art Cal. 39. Because they held the Breitling patents, Landeron was the exclusive supplier of column wheel chronograph movements until their expiration in the 1930's.
Just before World War II, Landeron developed the first cam actuated chronograph. Their Cal. 47 had three pushers: One to start, another to stop, and a third to reset the counter. They refined this movement to become the two-pusher Cal. 48. This would become one of the most popular chronograph movements ever made, with more than 3.5 million examples produced between 1937 and 1970. The lower price of production compared to a column wheel model meant an average person could afford a chronograph for the first time.
In the 1960's, Landeron produced the first Swiss electric movement, Cal. 4750. It featured a battery-powered balance wheel rather than a mainspring.
The original Landeron 48 featured a deep, curving hammer, a feature carried on to the 54, 56, and 58. The Landeron 51/151 features a conventional "boot" hammer, as does the 55, 57, 59/159, 80/180, and 81/181.
This is a old beauty with lots of characters. Please read all specification, and movement notes. The condition of the watch is the same as it appears in the photos. Contact me if you have any questions first.
SPECIFICATION |
|
Case |
Looks to be Steel Case since the case does not show any plating also has an S on the case and Stainless Steel Case Back. |
Case Size |
33,00 mm without the crown and 34,50 Lug to Lug |
Case Back |
Stainless steel cover signed with Snap on. |
Crown |
UnSigned shows plating |
Crystal |
Acrylic |
Bezel: |
None. |
Dial: |
This watch has the most beautiful Blue hands with Luminous & Lum Arabic numbers, with two register chronograph and date at 6 O'clock. Shows patina, and some plating. Please see picture for more detail. |
Complication |
Seconds, Date, Chronograph, Tachymeter. |
Movement |
Manual-winding Landron 159 |
Movement Notes |
Just inspected, Notes: Does not reset to 0 within the first min, when press chrono pushers moves back sometimes, Since the same pusher stops and reset the chronograph, you need to wait after stopping to resting, slow hand press. this is very common with this old movement. Might not rest to zero all the time, i noticed if you start, stop, start, stop, wait and reset works the best. Please see pictures and as some old movements don't have a very clear marking. Movement is running. Keeps great time see below time testing. |
Strap |
Genuine Leather Hadley-Roma, Lug Size: 17Rmm Please see picture. |
Box |
Come with Beautiful Vintage Style Box. Or Experts Watches Pouch |
Reference # |
739M |
Made in |
Switzerland |
Water Resistance |
No. Please pressure test before water use. |
Service Level |
3 (Please see Tab below for details) |
Timing Test ** |
-2 s/day In-House Time Test Results (See Service Level Tab)** |
Certified Pre-Owned |
NA Passed 25-point inspection. Please see tab below for details. |
Warranty |
Sold as described (Please see Tab below for details) |
Notes: |
All watch functions tested and operable. Circa 1950 |
Testimonials
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I have bought few watches from them and recommend them if you are looking to buy a watch. I as actually able to buy few watches from them that were not listed on their website. Apparently they have a lot of inventory that doesn’t even make it to the website. So if your are looking for vintage watches, you might want email them, if you can’t find it on the site.
Thank you for all the help Raymin.
I have bought few watches from them and recommend them if you are looking to buy a watch. I as actually able to buy few watches from them that were not listed on their website. Apparently they have a lot of inventory that doesn’t even make it to the website. So if your are looking for vintage watches, you might want email them, if you can’t find it on the site.
Thank you for all the help Raymin.
ROLEX CELLINI DANAOS XL 4243
Wire Transfer Customer
Dear Raymin,
I have received the watch! It’s beautiful and exactly as described. Thank you very much for making the international delivery a very pleasant one. I appreciate your quick and frequent updates, your fantastic customer service and definitely your competitive
prices. Looking forward to buying more from you in future!
Warm regards, Hendri
prices. Looking forward to buying more from you in future!
Jaeger Lecoultre Grand Reverso 8 days
Wire Transfer Customer
I am delighted with the vintage watch that I purchased from 'Expert Watches'. It is in exactly the condition that was described with perfect patina. As a customer I could not be more delighted with the service Provided by Raymin. The communication has been
first rate and the way in which, as a first time buyer, I was helped with the details of purchase, transfer of funds and shipping was fantastic. The watch arrived on the other side of the Atlantic, expertly packaged and tracked. All in all I would thoroughly 'Expert Watches' and I will certainly be purchasing again from them to add to my vintage watch collection.
first rate and the way in which, as a first time buyer, I was helped with the details of purchase, transfer of funds and shipping was fantastic. The watch arrived on the other side of the Atlantic, expertly packaged and tracked. All in all I would thoroughly 'Expert Watches' and I will certainly be purchasing again from them to add to my vintage watch collection.
David UK
Wire Transfer Customer
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Omega SpeedMaster
Amazing service. Product was exactly as advertised. Very happy to purchase again - and highly likely will.
Trekive
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Dude - this watch is fucking amazing! Totally 1970s. 861 movement. Band is sized perfectly. It’s truly close to 100% perfection! Many thanks. Cheers,
Chris Australia
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Great experience, will shop again.
S. Morphey
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Beautiful watch! as described! The watch keeps excellent time! Seller carefully packed item and shipped it super-fast! X-cellent communication. A trusted seller!
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Love this Watch hope to do more business with you soon. The Watch was as described and as is in photo. Great seller, great products.
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