Sandoz watch 1754-Z-69 chronograph Surf Board Valjoux 7733

SPECIFICATION

Reference : Sandoz 1754-Z-69
Movement :  Valjoux 7733
Age : Circa 1970
Case Size : 40mm
Case Thickness : 13mm
Lug to Lug : 45mm
Lug Width : 21mm
Condition : Used Sandoz watch
Box and Papers : No
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty

POINTS TO MENTION

• In great pre-owned condition, with some wear from use
  
• Case and bezel have some light scratches and marks
• Dial has some light age related marks
• Lume on hands has patinaed
• Signed Sandoz crown
• Paired with an unworn hybrid leather and rubber strap

THE WATCH

This Sandoz chronograph has large 40mm stainless steel case, surf board style dial, much like the Brietling and Bulova of the same era, inside is the famous Valjoux Cal. 7733 is a cam-switching chronograph movement based on the Venus 188. After Valjoux acquired Venus in 1966, the company took the affordable Venus Cal. 188 architecture and launched a new Valjoux-branded movement, Cal 7730. The only notable change was the use of a mobile stud carrier. Cal. 7731 followed with a different balance cock.

The movement was thoroughly redesigned by Valjoux as the Cal. 7733, launched in 1969. The original excenter adjustable hammer was replaced by a rocker design in 1971. The shape of the hammer was modified again in 1974.

Three related movements were also created: Cal. 7734 added a date function, Cal. 7736 had an hour counter, and Cal. 7737 was a regatta timer. These complications added to the height of the movement: 7733 was 6.00 mm, 7734 was 6.65 mm, and 7736 was 7.40 mm.

Cal. 7733 was the forerunner for the automatic Valjoux 7750, one of the most famous and successful watch movements of all time.

A BIT OF TRIVA

Henri Frédéric Sandoz (sometimes Frédéric Henri Sandoz), born in 1851, was a self-made man of Le Locle who in the 1870s founded Henri Sandoz & Cie., later producing complicated watches under the name of Cyma. In 1890, in partnership with two families named Schwob, Sandoz established a watchmaking firm at Malleray, near Tavannes, in the French-speaking Bernese Jura of Switzerland. Their new business was known as Tavannes Watch Co.  By the time of the death of Sandoz on 18 March 1913, many watches were made under the name of Henri Sandoz & Fils. The enterprise occupied a 'model factory' employing one thousand workers and producing 2,500 watches a day. Sandoz was reported to have a paternalistic policy towards his workforce, exercising a fierce social control.

Other names used by the Tavannes company at various times include Tavannes-Cyma, Bijou Watch Co., Tacy Watch Co., and Lisca. After the death of Sandoz, the company he founded went on growing. By 1938, it was manufacturing four thousand items a day.

Since 1971 the Sandoz brand name has been split into four main areas of production, due to its licences being leased or sold. This has led to four separate brands, Sandoz Singapore, Sandoz Hong Kong, Sandoz Swiss, and Sandoz Spain (Munreco). All these produce watches under the Sandoz name, but each production company has its own line of products. Sandoz Swiss manufactures high quality watches, while Sandoz Hong Kong and Sandoz Singapore manufacture cheaper watches of lower quality. [citation needed] Sandoz Hong Kong products are assembled in Hong Kong using Swiss movements from ETA.

OUR THOUGHTS

This Sandoz chronograph, is a great watch and has real character, it wears fantastically and its very versatile, Sandoz may not be the most well known brand, but you cant argue with the quality that they put inside of their vintages watches. Any vintage watch with a Valjoux 7733 in it has to be worth a look for any collector.