1969 Olma Chronographe Suisse 'Panda dial' + Original box - Cal. Landeron 248
An impressive and cool chronograph with screwed back and round pushers
WHY IS THIS WATCH SPECIAL
This Olma Chronograph is powered by the very popular Landeron 248, used by many famous brands, such as Breitling, Heuer, etc... Here is a stunning with a super clean movement example of a rare stainless steel screwed back with round pushers, the vast majority of the 'Chronographe Suisse' were manufactured with chrome plated cases, square pushers and clipped bottom.
This is one amazingly attractive timepiece.
THE STORY
The Olma factory was born in the 1900s and still exists today after a long journey through the desert in the 1970s and 1980s. The brand was created by Paul Jeannin Bourquin. He started his business under the name of his son Numa Jeannin SA, in Fleurier (Switzerland). The Olma brand was registered on January 22, 1926 and marketed pocket watches typical of the time. In 1942, Olma and Numa were joined to form Numa Jeannin Olma SA. Although Olma has never manufactured its own movements, the brand has introduced interesting innovations in the field of water resistance. Many models are proudly adorned with the “waterproof” label. The Caravelle range, whose caseback is distinguished by an engraved ship, clearly illustrates its nautical vocation on models intended for navigators and divers, such as this model with a “compressor” type case, with its internal rotating bezel.
The Landeron company began in 1873,formed by Charles Alfred Hahn and his brother Aimé Auguste Hahn, and called Charles Hahn & Cie. They produced watches at first, but moved into watch movement production in the 1920's.
In 1924, Charles Hahn (son of the founder, who died in 1875), acquired the patents of Anatole Breitling and began producing chronograph movements. This movement production company took the name, Landeron. In 1925, Landeron merged with Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon (FHF), being renamed Fontainemelon et succursale du Landeron. FHF/Landeron became a founding member of Ebauches SA in 1926.
Landeron's column wheel chronograph movements were famous, and the company supplied these movements to many militaries. Examples include Cal. 11 and 13 and the state-of-the-art Cal. 39. Because they held the Breitling patents, Landeron was the exclusive supplier of column wheel chronograph movements until their expiration in the 1930's.
Just before World War II, Landeron developed the first cam actuated chronograph. Their Cal. 47 had three pushers: One to start, another to stop, and a third to reset the counter. They refined this movement to become the two-pusher Cal. 48. This would become one of the most popular chronograph movements ever made, with more than 3.5 million examples produced between 1937 and 1970. The lower price of production compared to a column wheel model meant an average person could afford a chronograph for the first time.
In the 1960's, Landeron produced the first Swiss electric movement, Cal. 4750. It featured a battery-powered balance wheel rather than a mainspring.
THE DATA
- Maker: Olma
- Model: Panda dial
- Reference: N/A
- Case N°: 9330XX
- Year: 1969
- Material: Stainless steel
- Dimentions (WxT): 36x39x14mm
- Caliber: Landeron 248
- Bracelet/Strap: Genuine leather
- Lug width: 18mm
- Box/Papers: Original 1968 Olma box
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
This chronograph is in nice condition. All parts are untouched and unpolished, the sharp angles are preserved. The flawless 'Panda' dial gives an unbeatable touch. It has a very elegant and sporty presence on the wrist an can be worn daily.
The watch comes with it's original box and a one year guarantee.
