Favre-Leuba Sea Sky 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. 

This particular chronograph is a circa 1960s Reference 33033 Sea Sky Chronograph from Favre-Leuba. Housed in a 39mm stainless steel case with barrel pushers, an acrylic crystal, and a bi-directional rotating black acrylic countdown timing bezel, it features a black matte black gilt Tritium dial with silvered chronograph registers, multiple timing scales, and a matching broad arrow handset. 

Notably, this special chronograph is powered by the legendary, manually wound Valjoux 72 movement — the very same movement that powered the Rolex Daytona for decades. It’s accompanied by a cool vintage rubber strap, and though it boasts a ‘Super-Waterproof’ case, we wouldn’t recommend taking this baby near the ocean anymore!

If you’re chrono-curious but don’t want the same ol’ Speedy or Daytona that everyone else has on their wrist, you could do much worse than this versatile Sea Sky.

Get it on your wrist right away!

While not a household name, Favre-Leuba can trace its impressive roots back to the early 18th century in Le Locle, Switzerland. Founded by Abraham Favre in 1737, the company expanded under the leadership of Henry-Auguste Favre and joined with Auguste Leuba in 1815, following which it became popular around the world. However it wasn’t until the mid-1900's that the brand came into its own, creating some of the esoteric and fascinating watches that vintage enthusiasts know and seek today.
After first focusing on precise chronometer-grade timepieces, the brand began experimenting with technologies that would be tasked with adventure and exploration: In 1960, they debuted the Deep Blue, one of the first wristwatches with a water resistance rating of 200 meters. 1962 saw the release of the Bivouac, the first wristwatch equipped with an altimeter, while in 1968, they released the Bathy, the first wristwatch equipped with a mechanical depth gauge. Though the company has made many fine watches in their history, it is these daring designs that cemented it in the hearts of enthusiasts.
Though Favre-Leuba folded during the Quartz Crisis of the 1970s, it was resurrected in 2016. Today the brand lives on, having released a handful of modern iterations of their designs of the past.

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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.