Horological Meandering

Epilogue
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Papi Léon

Picture yourself in the streets of Paris. The year is 1946/48 and my great-grandfather, papi Léon, is in the market for a Swiss-Made chronograph. How exciting!

Unfortunately the post-war climate is harsh and, in an effort to conserve rare currencies, strict rules limit imports/exports of goods in/out of France including wristwatches.

Not the least discouraged Papi Léon turns to his friends. Specifically to one that owns a small business exporting european goods to Argentina. This friend holds a permit allowing shipments of merchandise between European countries and, in particular, between Switzerland and France. Great! Luck is on his side because this same friend also partly owns a plastic company in Oyonnax (aka Plastics Valley) in the french Jura. Since there have always been exchanges between the French and Swiss Jura it is easy to get in touch with a watch subcontractor. Would this be how papi Léon finds his swiss chronograph?

Yes! A couple weeks later, and thanks to strong friendships, papi Léon receives the chronograph that he had always dreamed of. 

(the strap is new- previously was on an unfashionable distending/elastic metal bracelet)

It does look a little strange without writing on the dial but I don’t mind it. As A. De Musset would say: “peu importe le flacon, pourvu qu’on ait l’ivresse” (“No matter the bottle, provided one gets the drunkness”).

After inspection, it’s a pretty standard chrono. It was manufactured in the early 1940s and houses a Landeron 48 movement (18,000A/h, 17 jewels, 42h reserve, manual wind). 

However, it's a pleasure to wear a piece that belonged to my great-grandfather. After being locked up in a draw for many years (and after restoring it) I brought it with me on my trip to Milan to meet up with some friends and make the most out of the Design Week (aka Salone del Mobile).