1970 Tissot T12 Chronograph 44mm UFO 40504 [ON HOLD]
Ref: 40504

Points of Mention

This watch is sold with an original Tissot presentation box. The watch comes paired on its original Gay Freres made 22mm stainless steel signed bracelet with a signed folding clasp in excellent condition. The watch is from Circa. 1970 and is sold in great vintage condition with a dial that is very fair considering its age. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

The Watch

The Swiss luxury watch company Tissot from Le Locle, Switzerland, was established in 1853 by Charles Félicien Tissot and his son Charles-Emile. Under Charles-Emile’s direction, they manufactured pocket watches with parts from Russia and the United States. In 1915, the company began producing wristwatches. Between 1920 and 1977, Tissot produced its own movements. In 1930 to survive the 1929 crash and economic crisis they entered into an agreement with Omega to form the SSIH Group which 53 years later became the Swatch Group.

Here we have a 1970 Tissot T12 Chronograph ref. 40504 with a quintessential 70’s case shape, a 44mm round-edged cushion that resembles a UFO. Brushed stainless steel encapsulates the whole aesthetic made by the case manufacturer EPSA. Ervin Piquerez S.A. is famous for its patent Super Compressor cases. The lugs are completely enclosed in the curvacious case, making the bracelet appear integrated.

A lug to lug length of 44mm and a thickness of 14.5mm gives the watch an impressive wrist presence. Down the right side, we have the recessed chronograph pushers and a recessed signed crown. A domed crystal sits above a white and black panda dial, a Tachymetre scale runs around the outer edge with white and red markings for timing purposes. An inner minute track is precisely printed with facet cut square applied indexes marking the hours. At 3 o’clock a 30-minute register, at 6 o’clock a 12-hour register and finally at 9 o’clock a small seconds register. Broad baton hands with luminance infill are complemented by a red chronograph hand which matches the red accents on the scale and register hands. For a large watch, it is well balanced and stands out from the crowd of 70s chronographs. On the reverse, a screw-down case back with the Tissot Gallion embossed in the centre. Inside a Manually Wound Tissot Cal. T12, which is in fact a Lemania Cal. 873, it is the very same movement Omega uses for their Cal. 861 found in the Speedmaster. The watch comes fitted on its original 22mm Tissot brushed stainless steel bracelet made by Gay Freres with a signed folding clasp and comes with an original Tissot presentation box.

Personal Note