Dubey & Schaldenbrand Spiral VIP Triple Date Chronograph
Ref: Spiral VIP
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold “Watch Only” and, therefore, without its Dubey & Schaldenbrand box or paperwork. It comes paired with its blue 20mm leather strap with a signed clasp. The watch is from Circa 2010s and is sold in worn condition, but overall, it is in fair condition. It comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TMHv0IwBL_E8eLz5vSAW7QzGWy54efYY?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 12:12 - https://youtu.be/-LySNlvArqQ
The Watch
Here we have a Dubey & Schaldenbrand Spiral VIP Triple Date Chronograph with a polished 41mm 316L stainless steel round case, beautifully sculpted screwed hinged lugs, and a lug-to-lug length of 50mm and a case thickness of 14mm, giving the watch an impressive wrist presence. Down the left side are chronograph pushers and a blue cabochon inset crown in the centre; on the right, you find an indented pusher for the day of the week. A smooth bezel holds a domed sapphire crystal AR coated above a silver dial, and an outer date ring in black ink surrounds a minute track precisely executed with applied dagger indexes marking the hours; at 12 o’clock, we have a 12-hour register, inside a moonphase crescent, at 3 o’clock a 24-hour and small seconds register in black ink, on the right we have the day window and on the left the month window, at 6 o’clock a 30-minute register, and finally, at 9 o’clock we have the Dubey & Schaldenbrand motif completing this Art Deco-inspired Triple Calendar Moonphase Chronograph. The handset sits on a central spiral, hence the name, that moves with the seconds and consists of steel sword hands filled with Super-LumiNova, a thick steel hand indicating the date and a fine tapered chronograph hand. On the reverse, a flat sapphire exhibition case back with the details of the watch engraved around its edge, inside a hand-engraved automatic modified ETA 7751, 25 jewels, beating at 28,800 beats per hour, beautifully decorated with a skeletonised rotor engraved with “Dubey & Schaldenbrand”, modified modules for the moonphase, day/month and outer date. The watch comes paired with its blue 20mm leather strap and a signed clasp.
Personal Note
Dubey & Schaldenbrand, a brand that most have never heard of and yet produced some of the most striking and interesting watches I have seen, like this Spiral VIP Triple Date Chronograph Moonphase, with hinged lugs and crown/pushers on the left-hand side for good measure, all powered by a heavily modified and decorated automatic ETA Cal. 7751. If you are in the market for something different and unique, look no further, this will quickly become a favourite on the wrist. Do not hesitate to add this gem to your collection today!
The Brand
Dubey & Schaldenbrand is a renowned watchmaking brand that has a long and illustrious history dating back to 1946. The brand was founded by Georges Dubey and René Schaldenbrand in the picturesque town of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. From the outset, the brand was known for its bold and daring innovations in the industry. Their most celebrated contribution to watchmaking was the invention of the split-second chronograph, which revolutionised the way time was measured. This pioneering innovation allowed for the simultaneous measurement of two separate elapsed times using a single crown pusher, which was patented in numerous countries, cementing the brand's reputation for innovation and excellence. Dubey & Schaldenbrand's expertise was incorporated into the Landeron base movement, making it more affordable and accessible to a wider audience. However, during the quartz revolution, the brand's fortunes took a turn for the worse, and it was forced to close its doors. In 1995, the brand was revived by Cinette Robert. She brought the company back to life by restoring movements she had collected during the 1970s and early 1980s that nobody wanted. These movements were carefully restored and hand-engraved by skilled craftsmen, and a limited number of timepieces were launched under the historic Dubey & Schaldenbrand brand. Cinette built the brand into a successful company with distributors in 50 countries. Cinette decided it was time to retire and pass on the business to a like-minded individual with the same passion for creating unique timepieces; luckily, she had the perfect fit with Jonatan Gil, who, like herself when she bought the brand, is young and ambitious and has a technical eye for detail. The company was then sold to 22-year-old Jonatan Gil in 2009 with the backing of investors. Born and raised in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Jonatan has been surrounded by watches all his life. His grandfather was a stonesetter, and he trained as a computer scientist with a deep passion for horology. Jonatan is now moving the company back to its roots in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Dubey & Schaldenbrand remains an independent brand dedicated to producing most of its components in-house to ensure the authenticity of "Swiss Made" craftsmanship. The brand's unwavering commitment to quality and innovation has earned them a reputation as avant-garde watchmakers. Their rich history and pioneering spirit continue to inspire the watchmaking industry to this day.