This rarely seen vintage Paul Portinoux two-register chronograph has a “T SWISS MADE T” signed dial that was originally born black but over the past several decades has turned naturally to a tropical brown color. It is in pristine condition, free of any scratching, tool marks, chipping or defects. In my humble opinion this dial is of museum quality. Please note that the first three pictures of the dial were taken in natural light (cloudy, overcast conditions) while pictures four through seven were taken on flash to more adequately show what the dial looks like under bright or sunlit conditions. The original tritium on the dial and hands, which remains fully intact and emits a short-lived glow after being exposed to bright light, has aged to a warm buttermilk patina. This patina complements the brown dial perfectly. It appears that the sweep seconds hand was originally red to match the seconds counter (left subdial) but over time the red paint has morphed into black (there are documented cases of this chemical pathway). The all stainless steel case is beautifully and uniquely cut, displaying knurled lugs and sharp beveled edges. The case craftsmanship is truly special. It is in excellent condition showing light wear and free of any visibly noticeable dents or dings. The outside of the case back, which shows scratching, is stamped “ALL STAINLESS STEEL WATERRESISTANT INCABLOC ANTIMAGNETIC SWISS MADE” with J. P PINGOUIN CO” followed by “SWISS MADE stamped in the inside of the case back. The crystal shows light scratching and a small crack near the 7 and 8 o’clock marker. In person this crack is not easily noticeable and it appears that the integrity of the crystal remains intact. But it is recommended that the crystal be replaced. The 17 jewels unadjusted J. PINGOUIN Co stamped Valjoux 7733 manual wind movement is clean, keeps accurate time and all chronograph functions work as they should. The top pusher starts and stops the sweep seconds hand and the bottom pusher resets the sweep seconds and minute counter (right subdial) back to precisely 0. The pushers have a nice catch and release feel with no signs of gumminess. After recently winding the sharply threaded, non-screwdown crown 35 full revolutions, which is exceptional for a manual wind, the movement had an impressive power reserve of approximately 41 hours. Given that this watch is approximately 45 years old and considering that the movement shows no signs of ever having been serviced (there are no visible watchmaker service markings on the inside of the case back or on the movement), a complete overhaul is recommended. This watch measures approximately 37 mm excluding the crown, approximately 39.5 mm including the crown and approximately 19.5 mm between the lugs. Case thickness, measured from the bottom of the case back to the top of the fixed bezel, is approximately 8.5 mm. Including the crystal thickness measures approximately 11 mm. Although the movement runs strong, keeps near perfect time and all chronograph functions work as they should, given the vintage nature of this watch and considering that the movement shows no signs of ever having been serviced, a complete overhaul is recommended. As such there are no warranties, express or implied, attached with the sale of this watch. Vintage means old and while my personal belief is that old-school means better quality and workmanship, things can and do go wrong from time to time. Any servicing costs going forward are your responsibility. And please study the 12 high magnification pictures carefully, which were taken in natural light and from various angles, as they are part of the description and serve as an accurate representation of the condition of this watch. The item “Vintage Paul Portinoux Chronograph withMint Tropical Brown Dial, Divers All SS Case” is in sale since Wednesday, February 19, 2020. This item is in the category “Jewelry & Watches\Watches, Parts & Accessories\Wristwatches”. The seller is “savethetreestoday” and is located in Issaquah, Washington. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Gender: Men’s
- Number of Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Switzerland
- Style: Casual/Dress/Formal/Sport
- Case Material: Stainless Steel
- Movement: Mechanical (Hand-winding)
- Age: Vintage 1970’s
- Year of Manufacture: 1970-1979
- Features: Easy to Read
- Case Finish: Polished
- MPN: Does Not Apply
- Display: Analog
- Lug Width: 19.5mm
- Brand: Paul Portinoux
- Case Size: 37mm
- Face Color: Brown
