1970s Junghans Olympic Chronograph Valjoux 7734
Ref: Olympic

Specification

Points of Mention

This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and therefore comes with no original box or original papers. The watch comes paired with a nicely fitting suede leather strap. The watch is from Circa. 1970s and is in worn, vintage condition as you can see from the photos. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

The Watch

Junghans was founded in Schramberg, Germany by Erhard Junghans and his brother-in-law Jakob Zeller-Tobler in 1861. Originally named Junghans and Tobler their first watches were produced in 1866. Shortly afterward Ernard passed away leaving the company to his wife and his two sons Erhard Jr and Arthur Junghans. Arthur spent a lot of time in America taking inspiration from there. The famous Junghans star Trademark started life as a 5 point star in 1888 then it was changed to an 8 point star in 1890. In 1903 Junghans was the world's largest watch factory producing an incredible 3 million watches a year. By 1930 they were producing their own movements. In 1956 they were taken over by the Diehl Group, producing in collaboration with the Swiss artist Max Bill, watches, wall clocks. During the Quartz revolution of the 1970s, they produced the first German quartz wristwatch, the Astro-Quartz. Innovation has always been Junghans' strength. In 2000 Junghans was taken over a second time by EganaGoldpfeil Holding. Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out well and in 2008 the company was sold to Hans Jochem Steim, a freeman of the city of Schramberg and his son Hannes Steim after the mayor of Schramberg asked if they would be interested in saving Junghans. The brand was split into two collections, Junghans and Max Bill. In 2011 they celebrated their 150th Anniversary. 

In honour of becoming Official timekeepers for the Munich Olympics in 1972, they released this Junghans Chronograph setting new standards in timekeeping. Its stainless steel cushion case has brushed surfaces. Round chronograph pushers and a signed crown can be found down the right side. A unidirectional stainless steel bezel has a silver insert with a 60-minute scale. The domed crystal sits above a vertically brushed silver dial. An outer Tachymeter is clearly printed. Slim baton indexes with a lume pip mark the hours. At 6 o’clock a date window. At 3 o'clock a 30-minute register and at 9 o'clock a 60 continuous seconds register. Black hands have lume infill. A well balanced and easy to read chronograph with a yellow chronograph seconds hand. On the reverse a screw-down case back. Inside a Manually Wound Junghans 688.10 (Valjoux 7734) 17 Jewels, 18,000 beats per hour Swiss Movement. The Valjoux 7734 was first produced in 1969 and commonly found in Breitling, Tudor, and Heuer chronographs. Fitted on a 20mm suede leather strap.

Personal Note

Another watch I've had my eye on for a while awaiting the collector to part ways with it, thankfully it came to me and I absolutely adore it! Some watches, like this one, are tough to part with. The dial is stunning, the case shape and size is perfect on the wrist, the movement inside is a workhorse... A fantastic watch for not an awful lot of money!