Brand: Wittnauer

Model: 239T Professional Chronograph ref. 7004 (Pre-7004A); Swiss Made circa 1960s

Case: Oversized solid stainless steel case with screw-down back is approximately 40mm excluding the unsigned winding crown

Strap: 20mm JPM (Jean Paul Menicucci) soft brown leather strap with contrast stitching and polished stainless steel tang buckle

Movement: Wittnauer cal. 14Y (base Landeron cal. 248) manual-winding chronograph movement (17 jewels); 18,000 BPH; Swiss Made; serviced in April of 2017

Features: Rare early example with "WITTNAUER" solo dial (sans "Genève"), first generation hands, and non-luminous red bezel insert; 30-minute chronograph recording capability with red 5-minute yachting regatta countdown; tachymeter scale for timing the average speed of a moving object (i.e. during racing applications); small running seconds register at 9 o'clock; original rotating bezel displays elapsed time (i.e. during dives) and is capable of tracking a second time zone; large solid stainless steel case with domed acrylic crystal

Condition: Fantastic condition overall with light wear consistent with age and use; solid stainless steel case is thick and sharp with its original edges and bevels in tact; stunning original Tritium dial and first-generation handset with attractive yellow patina throughout; luminous material within minute hand appears to have been repaired at some point; attractive original bezel insert has lightly faded to a stunning tomato-red hue

Other: These Wittnauer 7004 chronographs have caught fire in recent years and for obvious reasons: collectors love the vintage aesthetic and pop of red color from the bezel along with the modern feel of a 40mm stainless steel case. This particular example is special because it features a WITTNAUER-only dial (no "Genève") and 7004 reference marking inside the caseback (pre-7004A). Other distinguishing characteristics of early examples include the first-generation handset and non-luminous red bezel insert - The yellow patina that has developed on this watch is an added bonus!