Gübelin 'Oversize' Waterproof Chronograph

There is perhaps no more versatile complication than the chronograph. 

From race cars to rocket ships, boats to battlefields, you are likely to find a chronograph being employed to measure a plethora of tasks and times. From the Greek khrónos (“time”) and gráphō (“to write”), a chronograph is a watch that has the ability to record time, generally via the addition of small sub-counters that register minutes and hours. 

Though many storied brands produced notable chronographs during the complications heyday from the 1930s through the 1970s, numerous other firms fell by the wayside during the Quartz Crisis, folding completely and disappearing or being rolled up into conglomerates that pillaged their stores of parts. 

The particular chronograph we have here is notable for several reasons: First of all, it’s oversized, at 38mm in steel. Secondly, it’s stunningly beautiful, featuring a wildly cool Arabic typeface seen in certain 1960s vintage chronographs from the likes of Universal Genève and more. Third, it was retailed (and signed) by none other than E. Gübelin in Lucerne, purveyor of Switzerland’s finest watches since 1854. Fourth, it’s likely that this piece is actually a retailer-signed version of the famed M95 chronograph, judging by its dial layout and curved “snake” hand on the 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock. M95s are absolutely sleepers in the vintage chronograph world, and to find a retailer-signed version — rather than one signed by Movado itself — is particularly rare.

Also featuring a drop-through 'clamshell' case design for increased water resistance (though we do not recommend getting this wet these days); drilled “holey” lugs; an acrylic crystal; barrel pushers; a 30-minute counter with “pay phone” demarcations at 3 o’clock; a running seconds counter at 9 o’clock; and a satin silver dial with applied gold foil indices as well as a matching feuille handset, this is simply a chronograph to die for. Dating from the 1960s, its case has been lightly polished and is in very good condition, with the dial hardly showing any wear. 

One of the coolest retailer-signed watches we’ve ever come across, it’s doubtful that you’ll see a chronograph quite like this one any time soon!

A fine watch and jewelry purveyor akin to New York City’s Tiffany & Co, Gübelin has been selling fine watches in Switzerland since 1854. Beginning as a small watchmaker’s shop in Lucerne, it quickly grew over the generations into a storied retailer — so much so that timepieces sold in their shops were sometimes double-signed with the company’s name.

Expanding into jewelry in the 1920s, Gübelin opened branches in Zürich, Geneva, St. Moritz and New York. Currently in its six generation of family ownership, the firm has since expanded throughout Switzerland and internationally, opening branches of its gemological laboratory in Hong Kong and New York.

Finding a double-signed watch — or, indeed, a watch from a storied brand signed with only the Gübelin signature, is today cause for excitement. An integral part of Switzerland’s horological history, the Gübelin name is one that is closely intertwined with fine watchmaking around the world.

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Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.