1920s 18ct gold vintage National Watch Single-Button Chronograph watch

Date:            1920s

Case:            18ct gold, 34mm

Movement: Valjoux VZ

Dial:             Arabic numerals

Lugs:            14mm

A rare, early vintage Single-button Chronograph by National Watch Company, with a Valjoux VZ movement, in fabulous condition!

A 1920s, 18ct gold vintage National Watch Single-Button Chronograph watch. The case measures 34mm in diameter with 14mm hinged lugs. The case is marked Swiss 18ct gold and numbered. The manual wind, Valjoux VZ movement has 17 jewels. The white enamel dial has black Arabic numerals, with two subsidiary dials for the seconds and 30 minute register, red outer tachometer scale and fine blued steel ‘Poires Paris’ hands. The dial is signed National Watch above the centre.

Valjoux VZ movement 

Introduced in 1916 as a monopusher, the Valjoux VZ movements evolved into two-pusher designs and served as the base for the calibre 23 (standard) and calibre 72 (with 12-hour register) chronograph movements.

In the 1930s Audemars Piguet began to utilise the Valjoux VZ, including it in rare, high-precision and observatory movements. It was also used by Patek Philippe as a base for its legendary 13″‘ chronograph calibre movement (in references 1463, 2499).

In 1938, the addition of a 12-hour recorder (6 o’clock position) produced the famous Valjoux 72, which was used in early Rolex Daytona models.

The VZ production ended in 1974, with stocks lasting until roughly 1982, proving to be a fantastic quality movement used by many manufacturers for over fifty years!