Longines Chronograph 1/10s Rattrapante

nilomis · 2013-01-09T08:39:28Z

Explore a rare Longines pocket chronograph from 1968, featuring a rattrapante and vernier scale for 1/10th second timing. Discover its Caliber 262 movement and Olympic history.

nilomis

WPS member · Horological Meandering forum

18 replies8815 views7 photos

Nilomis shares an intriguing Longines pocket chronograph, a rattrapante model designed for 1/10th of a second measurements, possibly for the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games. This post delves into the watch's unique vernier scale and its historical significance, inviting the community to unravel its technical intricacies and historical context.

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Team,

From the same owner of the fantastic Breitling collection here is an uncommon (at least for me) Longines pocket chronograph.

This watch, based on a quick research, was released to be used during the Olympic Games in Mexico 1968 (I don't know if it was really used).

On this watch, a rattrapante or double chronograph, the main seconds hand includes a vernier allowing the measurement of 1/10 of a second.

How this works, I leave this to an expert. My experience with verniers was so long ago that I don't have a clue about how it works.

One can obtain more details on Wikipedia, searching for vernier.

Cutting short, here is the watch:

1) The watch inside the case. Notice the protective case that expose the two pushers. This baby was ... used.

2) With the protective case open

3) The watch outside the case

4) A B&W version

5) A side view, exposing the controls

6) The watch adjustment control.

7) Case back (Last digit of the serial numbers masked).

(On the reflex, it's me wearing summer clothes -- Bermuda shorts)

It was fun to play with this watch. By a short and inconclusive test, the watch is keeping great time for a 1968 piece.

Amazes me how much effort the watch manufacturers put on time measure, long time ago.

Cheers,

Nilo

Key Points from the Discussion

The vernier scale on the seconds hand allows for precise 1/10th of a second readings by aligning the yellow scale with the main dial's second marks. For example, if the '9' on the yellow scale aligns with a main second mark, it indicates 9/10ths of a second.
The Longines Caliber 262 is an in-house, milestone movement from the 1960s, known for its 36,000 vph and 'constant force' mechanism, enabling 1/10th second accuracy. It was Longines' last chronometer competition movement, showcasing their innovation in precision.
The watch features an adjustable vernier and fine-tuning for the balance, both crucial for an accurate chronograph. The discussion suggests a dedicated thread for watches with external fine regulation, often seen on pocket watches and some modern wristwatches.
Longines has a rich history of in-house movements, including chronographs, unlike many brands that sourced from Valjoux or Venus. The shift to Valjoux movements in chronographs began in the late 1960s, likely due to economic pressures, preceding the later move to ETA in the 1970s.
While Omega released the Chronostop for the 1968 Olympics, Longines timed the 1972 Olympics. This raises a question about the exact Olympic context for this particular Longines chronograph, as the standard 1972 release was a single-button chrono.
The orange hand is activated by the main pusher, and the black one is the secondary seconds hand, operating like a rattrapante chronograph. This clarifies the dual-hand functionality for precise timing.

The Discussion

G99

Jan 9, 2013

lovely watch, but surely Omega timed the 1968 Olympics

Omega released the Chronostop for the 1968 Olympics. Longines timed the 1972 Olympics. could it have been released then? the standard release watch then was a single button chrono with no continuous second and a single 30 minute totaliser. it is a really lovely looking piece, but i dont really understand how the attached bit on the second hand works. does the centre hand turn once a second which would make that addition make sense to me? if it rotates once a minute i cant see how it works. perha

nilomis

Jan 9, 2013

It's a double chronograph ...

The Orange hand is activated by the main pusher and the black one is the secondary seconds hand. It operates just like a rattrapante chronograph. Cheers, Nilo

G99

Jan 9, 2013

ok thanks....

ok thanks. On 9 Jan 2013 19:15, "www watchprosite" *Alert from:* www:watchprosite > *Posted By:* nilomis (registered) on January 9th, 2013 - 11:15 > > *Title: It's a double chronograph ... > * > > *

nilomis

Jan 9, 2013

Bingo ...

The watch was released early but used in 1972. Cheers, Nilo

G99

Jan 9, 2013

hehe, omega and therefore olympics...

hehe, omega and therefore olympics are in my blood. On 9 Jan 2013 19:27, "www watchprosite" *Alert from:* www:watchprosite > *Posted By:* nilomis (registered) on January 9th, 2013 - 11:27 > > *Title: Bingo ... > * > > *

BDLJ

Jan 10, 2013

The Vernier.

Hey G. My guess on how the "attached bit on the second hand works": As Nilomis wrote, it's a vernier scale. An example of how it might work: The watch is a 36000bhp or 1/10. If you look carefully at Photo 2), you'll see that the orange second hand is a fraction before 21 seconds. So it is stopped at 20 seconds and a bit seconds. If you then look at the yellow 1-9 scale hanging off the hand, you need to find which yellow line lines up exactly with any of of the 1-60 second marks on the dial. In t