****Welcome to our listing – THANKS for looking!! ****Shipping costs are determined by the country you live in. Please WAIT for our invoice before paying for the item! Digital pictures don’t always come out very well when photographing wristwatches. Flashes, reflections, dust, etc., always take away from the true beauty of these horological pieces. In saying this, please understand that this item looks MUCH better in person than the pictures would suggest – and we guarantee that this is the real thing! Background – Revue Thommen “Chronomark” model # 86.11.001 – CHRONOGRAPH WRIST WATCH This is a super rare man’s chronograph wristwatch. The Revue Thommen Swiss brand has been around since 1853. The company have been makers of superb, high quality time pieces for over a century and a half! We have been testing and wearing this chronograph wristwatch for the last week and we must say, what an absolute pleasure it has been! Winding and time keeping was virtually flawless and what a spectacular looking piece! The watch is all original and just about as perfect as you can find for a vintage piece from the 1980s (possibly as early as the 1970s). Take a look at the pictures to see for yourself just how clear, unblemished and simply gorgeous watch this is. Details regarding this listed item – REVUE THOMMEN “Chronomark” CHRONOGRAPH WRIST WATCH Swiss Watches Since 1853 Early Days After the construction of the Basel-Olten railway line in the 1850s, the little Jura town of Waldenburg, situated on the Basel-Geneva trade route, was forced to fight the unemployment and poverty in its population. In 1853, the borough decided to introduce the watch and clock making industry and founded the “Société d’ Horlogerie à Waldenburg” (Waldenburg clock and watch making company). But the enterprise didn’t flourish until it was privatised and taken over by the young merchant Gédéon Thommen in 1859. The company, managed under the name of “Gédéon Thommen – Watch Makers”, originally gave its watches the brand mark “G.T.”. Manufacturing and assembly methods were fundamentally improved and particular importance was attached to the production of quality watches. The “système à pièces interchangeables” (interchangeable components system), which consisted in the interchangeability of individual watch components, was groundbreaking and made it possible to transfer to series production. An invention protected by a “Remontoir patent” led to the simplification of the spring winding device and hand adjustment. Strong Growth While 4,000 watches were produced in 1870, an output of 13,000 watches was reached in 1890. Gédéon Thommen was becoming less and less dependent on suppliers, as the aspiring company could produce movement blanks in its own workshops. From 1875 the company was not only making cylinder watches – they were also producing lever pocket watches. An invention patented in 1885, and which is still amazing today, was the G.T. “Springeruhr” with a very modern looking mechanical digital display. Gédéon Thommens’ far-sightedness and capacity for work were no secret to the public, to whom he devoted himself in many ways. He was co-founder of the “Waldenburger Bezirksblatts” (Waldburg local newspaper) and played an eminent part in the founding of the Waldenburg railway. This opened in 1880 as the smallest narrow-gauge railway in Europe operated by steam and brought traffic to the Waldenburg valley. He was a member of the national assembly for 26 years and was particularly interested in the education system. Early 1900′s After Gédéon Thommen’s death, his son Alphonse founded the company “Thommens Uhrenfabriken AG” in 1905. The REVUE watches produced with their own production machines according to modern methods met with general approval among experts. The increasing demand for wristwatches was based on the product’s outstanding quality and the opening up of new markets. Subsidiaries were opened in Gelterkinden and Langenbruck and another production facility was built in Waldenburg. The currency breakdown in many countries, the severe economic crisis of the 1930s and the “templating”, i.e. the mass exportation of watch components, which was damaging to the prestige of Swiss watches, also caused the Waldenburg watch manufacturer a lot of trouble. The Thommens Uhrenfabriken AG research and development department surprised the industry experts more than once with innovations, which marked their epoch. 1980′s to Present Day In the 1980s, the company’s management decided to strengthen the link with “THOMMEN” navigation instruments, who had been supplying the aviation industry since 1936 and to rename the watch brand “REVUE THOMMEN” Although not a household name like Tag Heuer, Breitling or Rolex, the REVUE THOMMEN range of watches have gained many admirers around the world, including US presidents Truman, Eisenhower and Johnson, who all wore REVUE THOMMEN “Cricket” watches. Up to 1961, about one hundred different G.T. calibres were developed and produced. From 1961 onwards, further calibres were added, and were identified by initials. The initials from the beginning of the alphabet were for small watch movements – initials from the end of the alphabet were reserved for the larger watch movements. The manufacturing tradition of REVUE THOMMEN was almost lost. Up until about 1998, movements were simply assembled with parts from the old stock. The REVUE THOMMEN brand was produced for decades within the MSR holding by the company “Vulcain & Studio” in La Chaux-de-Fonds. In 2000, “Vulcain & Studio” ceased activity. However, thanks to the MSR holding’s long-term vision, an exclusive licence agreement was concluded with the company “Grovana Uhrenfabrik AG” in Tenniken/BL, an old and traditional company in the Swiss watch-making industry. The firm was founded in 1924, and is managed today by the second generation of the Bitterli family. 1853 – Societe d’Horlogerie à Waldenburg The small historical town of Waldenburg founds the “Societe d’Horlogerie à Waldenburg” due to the high level of unemployment at this time and to stem the migration to the USA. 1859 – Societe d’Horlogerie à Waldenburg – Ma Louis Tschopp and Gédéon Thommen take over the “Societe d’Horlogerie à Waldenburg“. 1869 – Uhrenfabrikation Louis Tschopp withdraws from the company. Gédéon Thommen becomes the sole owner and renames the company “Gédéon Thommen – Uhrenfabrikation”. 1870 – Patents Obtained Gédéon Thommen patents the “System der Auswechselbarkeit der einzelnen Werkbestandteile” (exchangeability of movement parts) and of the “Remontoir” (winding mechanism). 1875 – Lever Watches In parallel to previous production of Cylinder movements, Thommen starts producing Lever movements, which substantially improves the quality and performance of the watches. 1885 – Springeruhr GT The construction of the smallest narrow-gauge railway in Europe from Liestal to Waldenburg leads to the invention of the “Springeruhr GT” watch, and connects the valley with the international markets. 1890 – Son Succeeds Father Production reaches over 13,000 watches annually. Gédéon Thommen dies unexpectedly as a result of an insidious illness. His son Alphonse takes over the company. 1905 – Limited Company Alphonse Thommen transforms “Gédéon Thommen – Uhrenfabrikation” into a limited company. From now on the company is called “Thommens Uhrenfabrik AG”. 1936 – Aviation Instrument Appointed by the Swiss Air Force for the development and supply, the production of aviation instruments becomes the second main activity of “Thommens Uhrenfabrik AG”, and has since been supplying the global aircraft industry with Swiss quality aircraft equipment for civil and military applications. 1950 – Independence Achieved Thommen develops various new watch movements, including the GT82 movement. From this point on “Thommens Uhrenfabrik AG” is a completely independent company, which also produces watch components in parallel to its own movements. The factory also produces the necessary machines for this in its own workshops. 1961 – Bringing Brands Together “Thommens Uhrenfabrik AG” develops the GT44, GT54, GT56, GT12 and GT14 movement ranges. The “MSR Holding” (Manufacture Suisse Reunis) is founded. It brings together the Revue, Vulcain, Buser, Phoenix and Marvin brands under one umbrella. 1969 – Saltarello Collection The first Saltarello collection is launched. This model is based on the legendary “Springeruhr GT” watch of 1885. 1987 – “REVUE THOMMEN” Launch ”Thommens Uhrenfabrik AG” launches the double brand “Revue Thommen”. This brand now serves as the main brand for clear brand positioning on international markets. 1990 – New Highs in Aviation In the 90’s, Revue Thommen further increases its production of aviation instruments and since then has supplied all the leading aircraft manufacturers in the world. 2000 – Dissolution and Liquidation The “MSR Holding” is dissolved and the company “Vulcain & Studio SA” liquidated, subsequently “Cricket” becomes a trademark of “PMH SA”. 2002 – Resumption of Grovana Following a short interruption, “Grovana Watch Co.” resumes under licence the production of manufacture movements for Revue Thommen watches. The movements GT44, GT54, GT56, GT12 and GT14 form the framework for this range. 2006 – New GT60 Movement The first prototypes of the new GT60 movement design with power reserve, moon phase, small second hand and date hand are coming into existence. 2012 – Joint Venture Revitalisation ”GT Thommen Watch AG”, the joint-venture partnership of Andreas Thommen, Roland Buser and Christopher Bitterli buys the IP rights for the watch business from “Revue Thommen AG” and commences to revitalize the brand. 2014 – A New Beginning The joint-venture partnership is reconfigured following the buy-out of Christopher Bitterli and the production license. 2015 – Artisans of Time. Reinspired. ”GT Thommen Watch AG” appoints the company “Swiss Initiative Limited” as sole worldwide licence holder for the development & distribution of the watch brand Revue Thommen. The new brand image and designs of Classic & Lifestyle collections are presented at Baselworld under the motto: Artisans of Time. Reinspired. A partnership as official timekeeper for the AIR RACE 1 World Cup Series is established, so as an Ambassador program with explorer and mountaineer Paul Niel. 2016 – Hybrid Aerospace With a revived momentum established, the new designs of Aviation and Sport collections are presented at Baselworld. The connection with new ground-breaking Hybrid/Electric developments and the legacy of being directly associated with aeronautics is secured through a partnership with the Aerospace company “Tetraero Technologies SA”. Revue Thommen Chronomark Chronograph Watch: This is a man’s vintage Swiss made high grade Chronograph watch that dates from the 1980s (possibly as early as the 1970s) and is a superb, top of the line model. It is a large sized watch that measures 37mm across (without the crown, 40mm with) and 37mm from top to bottom. It has a stainless steel screw-down back and a stainless steel case with gold accents that shows very little, to no wear for a piece of this age and looks fantastic on the wrist. The ivory colored dial is outstanding. It is 100% original and looks superb. It has super looking hour markers with raised lume and has 3 sub-dials – all original – and all in MINT condition. A date indicator is located at the 3 o’clock position of the dial. It has a tachymetre scale along the outside part of the dial. The minute and hour hands have lume and it has a sweep seconds hand as well. The bezel of the watch rotates to the left only and “clicks” about 120 times to go full circle. There are a couple of light marks on the bezel, nothing serious. All the chronograph features work as they should and reset crisply to zero each and every time. The dial reads “Revue Thommen Automatic” with the company logo at the 3 o’clock position of the dial. It also has “Swiss Made” at the 6 o’clock position. The winding crown is signed with the Revue Thommen logo. The crown and pushers are all in gold and contrast beautifully with the stainless steel case. Further, the pushers are the high quality type that screw down, to lock them down into place. The case back is also signed “Swiss Made Chronomark Water Resistant 100m / 330Ft Registered Model Stainless Steel Case 8611001”. There is a stylized logo of a plane flying through two mountains on the back of the watch (we are only guessing at the logo meaning, but this is what it appears to be to us). Opening the watch we find a silver colored automatic winding, top of the line Valjoux calibre # 7750 movement – The Swiss made Valjoux calibre 7750 auto movement runs strong and is keeping excellent time. The movement is anti-magnetic. It is also signed “7750”. Total weight: 86 grams (with strap) Total watch length: approx. 23.5 cm There are no marks or defects on the crystal that we could see. The watch comes with an I.W. Suisse leather 2-piece, 20mm leather band with signed Revue Thommen logo buckle. It also comes with the original Revue Thommen outer and inner boxes. The inner box has a leather top. For any collector looking for a very rare and proper vintage chronograph, this CHRONOMARK offers great looks and reliable internals! ***Please note the following – Duty and Taxes are the responsibility of the buyer.Payment should be made no later than 3 days after receiving our invoice. If you need more time, email us so that an ebay “non-pay” case is not lodged against your account.Please don’t ask us to declare ridiculously low dollar values when shipping as this is illegal and we simply will not do it.Shipping depends on your location. If you are the lucky winner, please wait for our invoice before paying.To protect you (and us), we will only ship high value items by air service, with full insurance and tracking.
