1950s Arbu Triple Date Chronograph Valjoux 72C - SOLD
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It's important to think of the circumstances regarding the wristwatch in the 1950s. Before the advent of personal computers, cell phones, and other time telling devices that we completely take for granted today, the watch served a valuable purpose in being a reliable keeper of time. More complicated models added even further function, such as tracking elapsed time with the chronograph, or keeping easy track of the date with a calendar complication. It's also important to consider that the World Wars had greatly increased manufacturing technology and capability out of necessity, and that production capacity was trickling down into other areas. Watches considerably increased in quality, offering more robust and accurate movements, as the 1950s saw the first explosion of wristwatch chronometers as fewer watches were able to attain the certifications in past decades.
The charm of vintage watches for many lies in the manufacturing capability of the eras in which they were made. Watches were made before everything was manufactured with computers, before multi-billiion dollar brands worked to develop new materials and technologies. Watches are micro-manufacturing at its best, and any watch that can still run and function as if it just rolled off the factory is a testament to the quality of production of the period. The old adage "they don't make them like they used to" really rings true.
With the history of the period in mind, watches were a commodity used by a significant portion of the population, causing a large number of brands to come and go over the decades for various reasons. In 1938, a small watch company called A. Beuche & Fils was started in Bienne, Switzerland, home to a number of still existing watch brands today. The watches were sold under the ARBU name, for the founder Armand Beuche through the 1950s, when it appears the company was rebranded as the Rumanel Watch Factory, which still exists today. Since watches were commodities, there were a number of subsidiary companies that worked to produce components that makers would assemble and brand as their own, leading to a number of different third party movement, dial, case, etc. manufacturers. This can be seen in many of the most popular vintage watches of the period and up to today. Rolex's famous Paul Newman Daytona uses a movement from Reymond Freres (later known as Valjoux), a dial from Singer, and so on. Arbu was no different, using a Valjoux 72c calendar movement for the chronograph you see here, as well as a third party case seen offered by a number of brands from the period, including Heuer, Longines under their Wittnauer brand, and a number of others.
What makes this particular watch stand out is its striking condition. The chamfered case is still razor sharp and has not fallen victim to a polishing wheel in 60 plus years of existence. The bright blue outer date track and blue calendar wheels still offer a bright splash of color, complimenting the polished gold hands. As another sign of the times, the minute counter subdial has elongated markers at 3, 6, and 9, the intervals for a pay phone call. And the chronograph totalizer hands share the same unique spear shape, while the running seconds lets you know it's not part of the chrono party. A recently serviced, column-wheel operated Valjoux 72c beats away inside, and offers the smoothest and most satisfying chronograph operation I have ever used. You'll find yourself playing with the elongated pushers just to feel the column wheel click over, with a seamlessly smooth and consistent engagement each time. While it's really easy to get lost in collecting with the name on the dial dictating quality or desirability, little treasures like this Arbu have their deserved placed in horological history too, an era of time passed by when quality meant more than marketing and when everything was built by hand instead of with computers, all with a beautiful, elegant, balanced design that still looks just as good as it did when it was manufactured.
Condition is per the photos and as follows:
Case: 35mm stainless steel case in outstanding vintage condition. The case appears unpolished and retains extremely crisp edges throughout including the large sharp lug chamfers. There are no deep scratches or large dings in the case.
Dial/Hands: Original dial in excellent condition, free of any scratches, marks, or stains. The hour plots are printed in gold with black surrounds, while the remaining text is in black. The outer day wheel is in a striking bright blue which matches the calendar wheels. Hands are polished gold in excellent condition as shown.
Crystal: Domed acrylic crystal that has some thin internal damage on the edge near the 6 to 7 markers. This does not affect the watch's seal.
Caseback: Stepped steel snap-on caseback in excellent condition as shown. Inside is finished with perlage and stamped Arbu Watch with a serial number.
Movement: Valjoux 72c manual-wound calendar chronograph movement in excellent condition, recently serviced, with all functions including the calendar setting working as they should. Chronograph starts, stops, and resets to zero with incredibly smooth operation.
Strap: An 18mm brown leather vintage style strap with stainless buckle is included.
Accessories: None, sold as watch only.
The charm of vintage watches for many lies in the manufacturing capability of the eras in which they were made. Watches were made before everything was manufactured with computers, before multi-billiion dollar brands worked to develop new materials and technologies. Watches are micro-manufacturing at its best, and any watch that can still run and function as if it just rolled off the factory is a testament to the quality of production of the period. The old adage "they don't make them like they used to" really rings true.
With the history of the period in mind, watches were a commodity used by a significant portion of the population, causing a large number of brands to come and go over the decades for various reasons. In 1938, a small watch company called A. Beuche & Fils was started in Bienne, Switzerland, home to a number of still existing watch brands today. The watches were sold under the ARBU name, for the founder Armand Beuche through the 1950s, when it appears the company was rebranded as the Rumanel Watch Factory, which still exists today. Since watches were commodities, there were a number of subsidiary companies that worked to produce components that makers would assemble and brand as their own, leading to a number of different third party movement, dial, case, etc. manufacturers. This can be seen in many of the most popular vintage watches of the period and up to today. Rolex's famous Paul Newman Daytona uses a movement from Reymond Freres (later known as Valjoux), a dial from Singer, and so on. Arbu was no different, using a Valjoux 72c calendar movement for the chronograph you see here, as well as a third party case seen offered by a number of brands from the period, including Heuer, Longines under their Wittnauer brand, and a number of others.
What makes this particular watch stand out is its striking condition. The chamfered case is still razor sharp and has not fallen victim to a polishing wheel in 60 plus years of existence. The bright blue outer date track and blue calendar wheels still offer a bright splash of color, complimenting the polished gold hands. As another sign of the times, the minute counter subdial has elongated markers at 3, 6, and 9, the intervals for a pay phone call. And the chronograph totalizer hands share the same unique spear shape, while the running seconds lets you know it's not part of the chrono party. A recently serviced, column-wheel operated Valjoux 72c beats away inside, and offers the smoothest and most satisfying chronograph operation I have ever used. You'll find yourself playing with the elongated pushers just to feel the column wheel click over, with a seamlessly smooth and consistent engagement each time. While it's really easy to get lost in collecting with the name on the dial dictating quality or desirability, little treasures like this Arbu have their deserved placed in horological history too, an era of time passed by when quality meant more than marketing and when everything was built by hand instead of with computers, all with a beautiful, elegant, balanced design that still looks just as good as it did when it was manufactured.
Condition is per the photos and as follows:
Case: 35mm stainless steel case in outstanding vintage condition. The case appears unpolished and retains extremely crisp edges throughout including the large sharp lug chamfers. There are no deep scratches or large dings in the case.
Dial/Hands: Original dial in excellent condition, free of any scratches, marks, or stains. The hour plots are printed in gold with black surrounds, while the remaining text is in black. The outer day wheel is in a striking bright blue which matches the calendar wheels. Hands are polished gold in excellent condition as shown.
Crystal: Domed acrylic crystal that has some thin internal damage on the edge near the 6 to 7 markers. This does not affect the watch's seal.
Caseback: Stepped steel snap-on caseback in excellent condition as shown. Inside is finished with perlage and stamped Arbu Watch with a serial number.
Movement: Valjoux 72c manual-wound calendar chronograph movement in excellent condition, recently serviced, with all functions including the calendar setting working as they should. Chronograph starts, stops, and resets to zero with incredibly smooth operation.
Strap: An 18mm brown leather vintage style strap with stainless buckle is included.
Accessories: None, sold as watch only.
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