Witnnauer Dual-Register 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 complication’s 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. 

Wittnauer is one such firm. Established by Albert Witnnauer in New York City in 1885, the company became perhaps most famous as the distributor for Longines watches in the United States. However, the firm also produced watches under its own brand name — including numerous compelling chronographs — before finally folding in the 1980s. 

This two-register Reference 3256 is one such chronograph. Housed in a 36mm stainless steel case with an acrylic crystal, a smooth bezel, an unsigned crown, and dual pump pushers, it features a handsome silvered dial with an outer tachymeter scale in blue, an inner telemeter scale in red, a printed 1/5th-seconds track, applied 'dart' and 'Arabic' indices with luminous tritium plots, and a dual-register chronograph with 30-minute and running seconds registers. 

Powered by the Wittnauer cal. 14Y (Landeron 248) hand-wound movement and paired to a perforated leather rallye strap with a stainless steel pin buckle, this nifty '60s chronograph comes with its inner box, paperwork, and signed stainless steel beads-of-rice bracelet. 

If you're a fan of classically styled, under-the-radar tool watches, then this cool and affordable Wittnauer is right up your alley!

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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 two-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.