For sale we have a fascinating all-original 1970s chronograph wristwatch from Mondia.
A large oval case design, formed of stainless steel, with a width of 40mm, this watch has an impressive presence. The dial is a charming design with blue chapter ring, tachymetre inset and asymmetrical sub-dials with lager 30-minute counter. A sporty and impressive watch which wouldn’t have looked out of place on the wrist of a Formula one driver during the period. It is powered by the quality Valjoux 7733 movement.
Mondia is a Swiss watch company which was founded around 1900 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. In the 1960s Mondia expanded production, focusing on the mass-market segment. This attracted Zenith-Movado who brought the brand into the Movado-Zenith-Mondia umbrella in late 1969. This particular watch dating from the late 60s, early 1970s shows everything that was good about the brand and design of the period.
The steel case is large and impressive, measuring 40mm wide by 41mm in length, with a lug-to-lug measurement of 43.5mm. It is an oval shape with a flat face mirroring the cases lines surrounding the dial. There is a slight facet before the case falls away neatly to meet the flat polished case sides. There is a sunburst finish to the outer section of the bezel. The case curves slightly to fit the wrist neatly, with a screw case back to the rear. The pushers are well proportioned and original, with a chunky signed crown.
The dial is a silver tone with sun-burst finish to the central section. The dial is flanked by a navy tone minute/second ring, with varying markers with lume plots on the hours. The tachymetre chapter ring sits around the outside of the dial with neat signing. The hour markers consist of 3 polished squares to the top and bottom, whilst the sub-dials take up the remainder of the space. The 60 minute counter to the left has the same navy blue theme, whilst the larger 30 minutes counter has some neat touches of red.
The polished steel baton style hands are excellent with lume in-fill. The centre second hand has a well-designed rectangle to the centre.
The watch is presented on a new, 20mm genuine leather Rios strap.
The movement is a Valjoux 7733 with Mondia signing and gilt finish. Which runs well.
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
A further condition report is below.
Dial:
The dial is original and in excellent condition. The hour markers are mirror polished in the same great condition. The colours are bright.
Hands:
The hands are original baton style in a silver tone. The original lume is intact and is nicely aged.
Glass:
The crystal is free of marks.
Crown and pushers:
The crown is original with chunky design, in good condition with Mondia logo. The pushers are also original. They are in good condition.
The pushers are in very good condition. The locks work as they should, with the pushers working as they should.
Case:
The Stainless case is in good original condition. It has light surface scratching associated with wear and some small nicks. It wears its age well and hasn’t been refinished. The sides of the case have a polished finish. The front of the case has light surface scratching to the polished finish, with outer sunburst finish.
Caseback:
The case back is Stainless Steel and is a screw back, which is in average condition. It has light surface scratching and some slightly deeper scratches from poor opening attempts. The engraving to the rear is clean with brushed finishing.
Strap:
The watch is on a new, black 20mm brown leather Rios strap.
Movement:
The movement is a Valjoux 7733 with Mondia signing It has a gilt finish. It is a manual wind chronograph with constant seconds, 60 second counter and 30-minute counter.
The movement is in good condition but the service history is unknown. Runs well.
Case dimensions:
Case width: 40mm
Case width with crown: 42mm
Case length: 41mm
Case length lug to lug: 43.5mm
Case Depth: 11.5mm
Lug width: 20mm
Nice all-steel 38mm case ‘70s Yema.
Fully functional.