Ulysse Nardin Mono-Pusher Chronograph
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1942
Maker / issuer
Ulysse NardinThis Ulysse Nardin mono-pusher chronograph is a vintage timepiece from the 1940s, housed in an 18-karat yellow gold case with a diameter of 40 millimeters. The watch is operated via a single push-button integrated with the winding crown to control the chronograph functions.
The dial features a light-colored ground displaying blue telemeter and black tachymeter scales, paired with yellow gold hands and a distinct arrow-shaped minute-register hand. The movement is a manual-wind caliber based on the Valjoux 13, marked with the serial number 121068. The case back bears a French-language inscription commemorating Panos Pladelis and services rendered to the Swiss War Office for transport in Bern in 1942.
The watch is provided on a leather strap manufactured by Bulang and Sons and includes a handmade leather pouch. The auction source reports that the watch has been fully serviced.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Chronograph
- Case diameter
- 40 mm
- Case material
- 18-karat yellow gold
- Movement base
- Valjoux 13
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Service status
- Serviced by watchmaker
- Movement serial
- 121068
- Case back serial
- 610653
- Chronograph type
- Mono-pusher
- Maker / attribution
- Ulysse Nardin
- Commemorative engraving
- 1942 Swiss War Office transport service
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch is presented in a large, 40-millimeter diameter case constructed from 18-karat yellow gold. The design centers on the mono-pusher configuration, where a single button is positioned alongside the winding crown to activate, stop, and reset the chronograph mechanism. This layout maintains a clean aesthetic, focusing functionality through a singular interface. The dial is finished in a light tone and incorporates two distinct mathematical scales: a blue telemeter scale and a black tachymeter scale. The hands are fashioned from yellow gold, complementing the case material. A notable feature is the minute-register sub-dial, which utilizes an arrow-shaped hand to display recorded intervals, providing a clear visual indication of elapsed time for the wearer.
- Visible features
- • Single pusher located at 2 o'clock position • Movement plate marked 'ULYSSE NARDIN' and 'SWISS' • Case back exterior features engraved inscription and a Swiss shield emblem • Interior of case back bears hallmark 18K 0.750 and serial number 610653
- Movement and Inscription
- The internal mechanics are powered by a manual-wind caliber built upon the Valjoux 13 movement. The movement is inscribed with the serial number 121068. The case back serves as a primary source for the provenance of this specific example. It is engraved with an inscription in French, dated 1942, which refers to services provided to the Swiss War Office in Bern regarding transport. The inscription is dedicated to Panos Pladelis, who is associated in external historical interpretations with a Greek steamship during the Second World War.
- Provenance and Presentation
- The object includes supplementary items provided by the seller, consisting of a leather strap produced by Bulang and Sons and a handmade leather carrying pouch. The auction report emphasizes that the watch has undergone a complete service, indicating it is currently in operational condition. While the name Pladelis suggests a potential link to maritime transport during the global conflicts of the 1940s, the specific recipient remains a subject of interpretation provided by the source.
Identification
- Serial number
- 61053
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The link between the name Pladelis and a specific Greek steamship remains an unverified historical suggestion
- Research required: The original intended recipient of the watch is not confirmed by documentation