Tourneau Split-Seconds Chronograph

Description

This extremely rare Split-Seconds (or “Rattrapante”) was made by Tourneau in the 1950s. It houses the Venus 185 caliber, a cousin of the Venus 179 but fitted with an additional hour counter. The case measures a hefty 37.5mm without crown, with horned lugs reminiscent of the time period. The watch is fully original and the radium lume on the hands and indices has turned a pleasant shade of orange-brown. To top it off, the two-tone dial exudes a subtle, pleasant kind of warmth that’s not-at-all common from the radium-lumed pieces of the era. This is not a watch for everyone – it is a rare piece for the discerning collector who’s interested in collecting outside of the realm of standard chronographs like the Rolex 6263s or Omega 2998s. I guarantee you will not be able to find many of these up for sale in this condition soon, as it’s getting harder and harder for collectors to part with them. 

The watch itself is in great vintage condition.  The case does not show signs of polishing.  The dial, as described above, has aged nicely over the years, with a warm and even patina.  Further, this watch has recently been serviced, and the split-seconds function is working perfectly.