UNLESS YOU'RE FORTUNATE enough to have a watch with a manufacture movement (one made in-house), yours will be an ébauche; an engine made by a specialist maker and bought-in by a watch firm. If it's a chronograph, chances are there'll be a Valjoux 7750 behind the caseback hence the old Swiss saying: 'Vous n'êtes jamais à plus de 1.83m d'un Valjoux 7750. It's probably the single most common mechanical chronograph movement.
It very nearly wasn't like this. When the 7750 started life as a young movement back in 1973, the watch industry had hit a peak of craftsmanship, tech and materials quality. It meant Seiko, Zenith and an alliance of Breitling, Buren and Heuer were all able to claim the release of the first automatic chronograph movement within a sneeze of each other: the cal.6139, El Primero and cal. 11/Chronomatic, respectively.
All of a sudden, venerable Valjoux was left wondering what had happened. The firm needed a new automatic chronograph movement to offer a cost-effective competitor.
Denne historien er fra 250 - April 2024-utgaven av Octane.
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Denne historien er fra 250 - April 2024-utgaven av Octane.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically
China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep. However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.
Jem Marsh
The hard-bitten Marcos boss was driven like few others and never knew when he was beaten. Thankfully
Vandamm House
A Mid-Century Modernist masterpiece that was immortalised on celluloid - despite never actually existing
Making light
Alfa Romeo's post-war renaissance began with the 1900 saloon - and matured with Zagato's featherweight coupé version, as Jay Harvey discovers
FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE
Is burgeoning classic car interest in the Middle East good for the global classic market? Nathan Chadwick investigates
Before the beginning
This rare Amazon Green pre-production Range Rover is Velar chassis number 4. James Elliott charts its historically revealing factory restoration
Ben Cussons
As the outgoing chairman of the Royal Automobile Club hands on to his successor, Robert Coucher quizzes him about the evolution of this great British institution
BULLDOG & THE PUPPIES
We gather five motoring masterpieces by avant-garde designer William Towns - and drive all of them
Below the tip of the Audrain iceberg
As the Audrain organisation grows, we take a look behind the scenes at the huge car collection that feeds it
Flying the Scottish flag
Young Ecurie Ecosse driver Chloe Grant gets to grips with the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar C-type at Goodwood. Matthew Hayward is Octane's witness
