Jardur - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII Hong Kong Friday, May 24, 2024 | Phillips

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  • Condition Report

  • Description

    View our Conditions of Sale.

  • Manufacturer: Jardur
    Year: Circa 1940s
    Case No: The first 32‘323, the second 47
    Model Name: The first Bezelmeter Aviation Chronograph, the second Jardur aviator’s wristwatch with 24-hour dial
    Material: Stainless Steel
    Calibre: The first manual, Valjoux cal. 71, 17 jewels, the second manual, jewelled
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle
    Dimensions: The first 38.5mm diameter, the second 31.5mm diameter
    Signed: Cases, dials and movements signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    Established by WWI US Navy veteran Samuel Klepper in 1937, The Jardur Import Company, New York was an importer and manufacturer of precision aviation instruments, producing tools like flight calculators, navigation plotters, protractors. They were also the exclusive importer from Switzerland the renowned Jardur Bezelmeter chronographs, and the Jardur aviation waterproof wristwatches.

    The famous Bezelmeter Aviation Chronograph is essentially a cockpit instrument for the wrist, featuring a bezel with an independent chapter ring graduated in counterclockwise hours, and a red “degreemeter” scale on the dial. Rotating the bezel to align duration hour with the hour hand on the dial at takeoff will give the pilot a quick reference of the remaining flight time, and the “degreemeter” scale is used with the chronograph to calculate turns, making it an invaluable aviation tool for pilots. Most wristwatches at the time, even those that were made for aviation, did not feature a degreemeter, earning it a special place in aviation history.

    Powered by the rare Valjoux 71, a forerunner to the legendary Valjoux 72, the Jardur Bezelmeter Aviation Chronograph boasts high timekeeping performance and technical finesse. The present example is preserved in great condition, with a delightful layer of patina developed on the dial and the luminous-filled cathedral-style hands aged to an attractive shade of golden brown.

    Equally engineered to be functional with finesse, the second Jardur aviator’s wristwatch with 24-hour dial is encased in a much smaller 31.5mm case. The dial is marked by a red 24-hour scale, harmoniously complementing the luminous materials on the hands and Arabic numerals which has aged to a rich tone of toffee. Preserved in great condition, this set of two Jardur aviator’s wristwatches is a fascinating piece of aviation history, and they are perfect for any discerning collectors of pilot's watches.

1058

A fine, very rare and well-preserved set of two stainless steel aviator’s wristwatches

Circa 1940s
The first 38.5mm diameter, the second 31.5mm diameter
Cases, dials and movements signed

Estimate
HK$40,000 - 80,000 
€4,800-9,600
$5,100-10,300

Place Advance Bid
Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2031
WatchesHK@phillips.com
 

Gertrude Wong
Head of Sale, Hong Kong
+ 852 2318 2045
gertrudewong@phillips.com
 

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII

Hong Kong Auction 24 - 25 May 2024