formida - Classic Chronograph - Unisex - 1940

A superb Formida vintage chronograph watch, a Swiss model dating from 1940. Formida was a renowned brand for its chronographs and its complication watches, often powered by high-quality Swiss movements such as those from the Pierre Nicolet manufacture (Tramelan) in the Swiss town. The mechanism is a Landeron 48 movement. The back of this chronograph is 9K gold, but with some wear, given its age of 86 years.

It has two subdials (bi-compax) with the inscription antimagnetic. Its design features tachymetre scales along the outer edge. This chronograph is highly sought after by collectors for its vintage aesthetics and its importance in the history of Swiss watchmaking. Unlike modern chronographs, the top button is often used only to start, while the bottom one stops and resets.

It's a very reliable movement and very easy to service, because spare parts are available from specialized watchmakers. Bi-compax: the two-counter layout is typical. The left dial is the small seconds (the running seconds) and the right is the 45-minute totalizer for the chronograph. Look at the fine markings on the outer edge; it used to allow measuring distance (by sound, like a lightning bolt) or an average speed over a given distance.

The antimagnetic inscription indicates that this watch was designed to resist magnetic fields, a major innovation at the time to ensure precision. Like all watches of that era, it is not waterproof. Wind my chronograph every morning, until you feel a clear resistance.

As with all mechanical watches, never wind the movement to the very end, or you may permanently block your watch.

Dimensions: 3.7 cm with the crown (or winding stem); the dial is 3.5 cm; thickness 0.5 cm; weight 45 grams.

This is a chronograph from my collection. It works perfectly, to the second, synchronized with the time on my computer.