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Thread: 'Simple' chrono suggestions

  1. #1
    Master gunner's Avatar
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    'Simple' chrono suggestions

    I already have a couple of chronos with the classic 3 subdial layout but looking for something with the elegance of simpler dial. Also had a lovely 2 Omega De Ville bicompax a few years ago but that was stolen.

    Ideally no subdials like a Damasko DC70 but possibly one subdial like a PRS-56. No date a bonus.

    Suggestions please...

  2. #2
    Not "elegance", but I've always liked the Tutima Commando, and of course, the Sinn EZM-1.


  3. #3
    Master gunner's Avatar
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    I meant to mention the EZM1 but the Tutima is a good addition to the list.
    Last edited by gunner; 29th November 2023 at 10:39.

  4. #4
    Master
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    If you have deep pockets, can't get simpler than this:

    https://www.woundforlife.com/2015/08...s-chronograph/

  5. #5
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fullbreakfast View Post
    If you have deep pockets, can't get simpler than this:

    https://www.woundforlife.com/2015/08...s-chronograph/

    Lovely sector dial !!

    B

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fullbreakfast View Post
    If you have deep pockets, can't get simpler than this:

    https://www.woundforlife.com/2015/08...s-chronograph/
    Lovely simple dial but not keen on the idea of the crown control. Sold my Seamaster 120 multifunction for the same reason.

  7. #7
    Master sweets's Avatar
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    It is a pretty empty playing field, the central-minute chrono one.

    There are the Lemania ones, of course, now all vintage, and one not mentioned so far is the Tissot Navigator, using the Lemania 1343 (has date and single sub-dial for running seconds at 9)
    All the earlier 134x movements had at least one less sub-dial as they did not have the 24-hr one, but I am sure you know that.
    And later the Chronosport Chronosail (but this has a Doppelzeiger on the minutes to give a 10-minute countdown for regatta starts)
    Before then there was the Mido Multi centrechrono and the Longines 13ZN (from memory). The former very small, the latter very pricey (but incredible).
    Tag Heuer Aquagraph (full set of sub-dials)?
    Since then, there are the newer Tutima offerings (Saxon 1 and new M2), and ones from Damasko, Sinn, Bell and Ross (search for the flyback, one v nice Blackbird LE and a regular range, imho ruined by a nasty date window at 4)
    Mido did a re-issue, but it was pretty ugly.
    Girard Perregaux did one
    As did Habring, I think.

    That is all the mechanical ones.

    There are loads using the quartz movement (ETA 252 series, 262, 232 etc) but most use almost all their sub-dials.
    One obvious exception is the A-13A by Paolo Fanton, which I thoroughly recommend, which ticks all boxes (central minutes, no date, no sub-dials).
    Older, there was one by Mappin and Webb that only used the 12 hour sub-dial (but it was off at 10, making it look a little wierd), and a very military looking Victorinox AirBoss chrono, which I have always curiously fancied.

    I have an EZM1, Tutima Commando and A-13A. The first two are my pride and joys, love them. But the latter is a very good watch, and if Paolo gets his way, he is going to release a machanical version too, but he is yet to achieve critical mass on that one, and he has refunded those that put a deposit down.

    Edit - I see the Habring one has been referred to while I was writing

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by gunner View Post
    Lovely simple dial but not keen on the idea of the crown control. Sold my Seamaster 120 multifunction for the same reason.
    I did wonder if it would be too fiddly and/or have reliability issues. Not many people have one so views are thin on the ground, but I did have a bit of chat with a guy on WUS who has one and he raved about it.

    Not that I am likely to be getting one in the near future!

  9. #9
    Master gunner's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sweets View Post
    It is a pretty empty playing field, the central-minute chrono one.

    There are the Lemania ones, of course, now all vintage, and one not mentioned so far is the Tissot Navigator, using the Lemania 1343 (has date and single sub-dial for running seconds at 9)
    All the earlier 134x movements had at least one less sub-dial as they did not have the 24-hr one, but I am sure you know that.
    And later the Chronosport Chronosail (but this has a Doppelzeiger on the minutes to give a 10-minute countdown for regatta starts)
    Before then there was the Mido Multi centrechrono and the Longines 13ZN (from memory). The former very small, the latter very pricey (but incredible).
    Tag Heuer Aquagraph (full set of sub-dials)?
    Since then, there are the newer Tutima offerings (Saxon 1 and new M2), and ones from Damasko, Sinn, Bell and Ross (search for the flyback, one v nice Blackbird LE and a regular range, imho ruined by a nasty date window at 4)
    Mido did a re-issue, but it was pretty ugly.
    Girard Perregaux did one
    As did Habring, I think.

    That is all the mechanical ones.

    There are loads using the quartz movement (ETA 252 series, 262, 232 etc) but most use almost all their sub-dials.
    One obvious exception is the A-13A by Paolo Fanton, which I thoroughly recommend, which ticks all boxes (central minutes, no date, no sub-dials).
    Older, there was one by Mappin and Webb that only used the 12 hour sub-dial (but it was off at 10, making it look a little wierd), and a very military looking Victorinox AirBoss chrono, which I have always curiously fancied.

    I have an EZM1, Tutima Commando and A-13A. The first two are my pride and joys, love them. But the latter is a very good watch, and if Paolo gets his way, he is going to release a machanical version too, but he is yet to achieve critical mass on that one, and he has refunded those that put a deposit down.

    Edit - I see the Habring one has been referred to while I was writing
    Thanks!

    (should have said I'm really thinking mechanical, I have a Yema Spacegraf quartz chrono with a single subdial.)

  10. #10
    Craftsman
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    There is the Seiko 6139 if you fancy some vintage 70's cool.
    Available in a variety of flavours.
    Here is my 6139-6012 from 1972


  11. #11
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    If no sub dials is a real consideration surely an Omega Chronostop has to be on the list?

  12. #12
    Grand Master number2's Avatar
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    If only our very own PRS-56 had had this layout...
    "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."

    'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.

  13. #13
    Master gunner's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sinnlover View Post
    If no sub dials is a real consideration surely an Omega Chronostop has to be on the list?
    Absolutely, nearly bought one from AndyR.

  14. #14
    Master sweets's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sinnlover View Post
    If no sub dials is a real consideration surely an Omega Chronostop has to be on the list?
    Good point, especially if you get the one with the internal bezel (for minute functionality)

    Like this



    This is the tissot I was referring to



    Tutima Commando II comes without bezel



    And with



    Here is the Chronosport Chronosail



    The A-13A, I am a fan



    And the EZM1, the "daddy"



    A vintage 1341, perhaps, like this?



    Dave

    EDIT - do I still own them? No, No, No, Yes, Yes (in Bits), Yes, Yes, No
    Last edited by sweets; 29th November 2023 at 17:02.

  15. #15
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    Then there is a the Aquastar Chronograph

    Might be a bit busy though.



    The original watches are a bit lovely though.

  16. #16
    Master gunner's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sinnlover View Post
    Then there is a the Aquastar Chronograph

    Might be a bit busy though.



    The original watches are a bit lovely though.
    Cheating a bit not putting a dial behind that running seconds!

  17. #17
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gunner View Post
    Cheating a bit not putting a dial behind that running seconds!
    Fair point!

  18. #18
    Grand Master Onelasttime's Avatar
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    Is a two-sub dial still out of the question? I miss this one…



    Also available in white …


  19. #19
    Sweets has outlined everything very well - I'd just be repeating everything!

    No subdials:



    One subdial:





  20. #20
    Master
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    I would go for the Bulova Moon watch, but it does have the date facility.

  21. #21
    The simplest chrono I have seen personally, pretty tidy looking watch too.
    Yema SpaceGraf Zero...

    No date, no bumff, simple seconds on the second hand and minutes elapsed on the subdial

    Great for boiling eggs and parking ticket machines....

    Sent from my IN2013 using Tapatalk

  22. #22
    Master gunner's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by nickyboyo View Post
    The simplest chrono I have seen personally, pretty tidy looking watch too.
    Yema SpaceGraf Zero...

    No date, no bumff, simple seconds on the second hand and minutes elapsed on the subdial
    Yep, that's why I already have one!


  23. #23
    Master sweets's Avatar
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    How about Stowa?



    Or even this, simple with GMT


  24. #24
    How about one of the chronos containing the Agenhor Agengraphe movement? No subdials at all!


  25. #25
    Quote Originally Posted by gunner View Post
    Yep, that's why I already have one!

    Nice one mate , great taste sir

    Is yours the blue dialled version?

    If yes, how is the blue? Pictures of them I've seen always look like it's a very dark shade of blue.

    Sent from my IN2013 using Tapatalk

  26. #26
    Master gunner's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by nickyboyo View Post
    Nice one mate , great taste sir

    Is yours the blue dialled version?

    If yes, how is the blue? Pictures of them I've seen always look like it's a very dark shade of blue.

    Sent from my IN2013 using Tapatalk
    Yes, it's the blue one and it is dark, pic is a fair representation.

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