A vintage Enicar on the blog this time, one of their chronograph models from the 1970’s.
(Click pictures to enlarge)
It doesn’t take much imagination to work out why this model has the nickname “Big Eye”. While some manufacturers used coloured sections or bold dividing lines to increase the legibility of chronograph sub-dials, others just increased the size to the maximum that the dial would allow. It undoubtedly works, though the effect does divide opinion as some argue that it results in an aesthetically unbalanced dial. I’ll let you make up your own mind on that…
There are quite a few examples of big eye chronographs if you go looking for them but two of the most renowned vintage models are the Universal Geneve Uni-Compax and Aquastar’s Deepstar.
The subject of this post arrived in running order but had obvious issues; the reset pusher was missing and the hands had lost most of their lume. Inside the watch is a Valjoux cal. 234, effectively a late production Valjoux cal. 23 with an increased beat rate of 21,600 bph and an added date function.
Although in decent cosmetic order the movement did have a few additional problems discovered during the service, the flyback lever for the chronograph was broken and the date ring had some damaged teeth. It doesn’t look like much but this is enough to prevent the date from working properly and being plastic, the only option is to replace the ring.
With the movement parts sourced and replaced, the rest of the service was completed, the hands were re-lumed in a vintage cream colour to match the dial markers and the watch could be rebuilt. Both pushers were replaced to ensure a match, the case was cleaned and a new crystal was fitted to complete the job.
Finally a picture of the caseback which is typical of many Enicar watches from this period, featuring the scalloped design with an engraved shark and Saturn from the Enicar logo in the centre.
Rich.
