{"product_id":"rodania-royal-canadian-navy-monopusher-chronograph-as02453","title":"Rodania Royal Canadian Navy Monopusher Chronograph","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAmong all the vintage watches that ever saw combat, chronographs enjoy a special following. Certain examples—such as the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/products\/heuer-bundeswehr-as02273\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Heuer Bundeswehr\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eHeuer Bundeswehr\u003c\/a\u003e or the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/products\/zenith-a-cairelli-chronograph\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Zenith A. Cairelli Chronograph\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eZenith A. Cairelli\u003c\/a\u003e—can command a hefty premium, owing to the prestige of their manufacturers. However, the militaries of the world entered into contracts with many other manufactures, resulting in scads of these historical timekeepers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eRodania may not have as long a history as some of the other brands, but their watches are no less worthy of consideration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFounded in 1930 in Grenchen, hometown of Nivada (alias \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/products\/croton-skymaster-chronograph-as02319\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Croton Skymaster\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eCroton\u003c\/a\u003e), Rodania made a niche for itself in producing watches for distribution by jewelers and other retailers, particularly for the Canadian market. In the 1950s, the brand entered into a contract with the Canadian military to produce chronographs for their armed forces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThroughout the years, Canada entered into such contracts with several different manufactures, among them \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/omega\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Omega\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eOmega\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/breitling\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Breitling\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eBreitling\u003c\/a\u003e. Regardless of which company made them, these watches were identical in appearance and construction: 36.5mm stainless steel cases, white dials (usually unsigned, except if made by Omega), and driven by a chronograph movement operated by a single pusher. While the identity of the maker might not be apparent when the watches are viewed head-on, a look at the case back—or at what beats beneath it—will show the manufacture’s name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eRodania picked up the contract in the late 1950s and held it until the 1960s, and while exact numbers aren’t known, examples made by Rodania are far less common than their Omega or Breitling counterparts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis particular example, a Reference 4449H, is powered by a manually-wound Venus Calibre 175 drivetrain. The stark, sterile dial shows signs of the years this watch has seen, resulting in patina to the luminescent elements. The case back is stamped with RCN, denoting property of the Royal Canadian Navy, as well as an armorers serial number. The inner case back bears a signature from Rodania.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWhether you’re a collector of militaria or are looking for a cool chronograph with an interesting history, this Rodania is one to check out. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rodania","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":7251040600094,"sku":null,"price":3600.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/Rodania_RCN_Monopusher_Chronograph_AS02453_2.jpg?v=1527617913","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/rodania-royal-canadian-navy-monopusher-chronograph-as02453","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}