Vintage Lator 17 Jewel Chronograph Watch

Whilst I don't profess to be an expert in vintage watches I have always had an interest in them and more so for those of military style or origin. I am currently thinning out my own collection and have decided to let this classic Lator go to a new home. I purchased it at auction back in 2003 and other than having the chronograph function repaired it has not been touched since and has never been worn whilst in my ownership.

The overall condition reflects the lack of use and believe our picture tells the full story. The steel body, bezel and crystal are all in remarkably good shape, as is the stunning black dial. All the chrono functions work correctly with the top button starting the sweep second hand with the right hand subsidiary dual recording the elapsed time from 0 to 45 minutes. The bottom button stops the sweep second hand and elapsed time, whilst a further press zeros the second hand and the cumulative minute counter back to zero. The left hand subsidiary dial records seconds and continues to run independently of the chrono function. The central control is for standard manual winding.

I have personally never removed the screw watch back but when purchased I had a colleague who specialised in clocks and watches check it out. He advised the movement fitted is a very high quality Landeron 248 example. A little research via on line chat rooms indicated the following and I quote, with thanks to blogger Michael Stockton :- 'I've featured a couple Landeron pieces before and it's clear that this is the redheaded stepchild of vintage chronograph movements. Well, it shouldn't be, unless durable, easily repaired and accurate movements are ripe for disdain. You will get a legitimate vintage chronograph that boasts a movement so fool proof that it made chronographs available to the masses. Think of a Landeron 248 much like you would a Ford Model T and you're on the right track'. Certainly a great endorsement from one who knows!

The one oddity on this watch is the back plate is Broad Arrow marked and below 6B/551 and 2296/67. This would appear to indicate the watch had RAF associations but my limited research has failed to confirm this. I have again found online a chat room advising of a Lator chronograph carrying similar makings to ours with debate, concerning its origins, but again no final decision was reached. So in view of this (and unlike some E bay sellers we could name! we are offering as 'A military style chronograph' probably dating from the 1960's that sits well both on the wrist or in a specialist collection. Whilst it appears to be in good working order it has not been serviced in at least 15 years but we will leave that decision to the new owner. It is fitted with an appropriate mint and unused grey nylon NATO strap by CWC and as with all our stock please ask if you require further detailed photographs.

Pricing on this model remains a mystery. Currently one is for sale on the net at £1,495.00 and another at £635.00 The last one we saw actually sold made £310.00 on E bay in March 2018 and believe this is closer to the mark so we are pricing ours in the same ballpark and is for sale as seen.- Whilst I don't profess to be an expert in vintage watches I have always had an interest in them and more so for those of military style or origin. I am currently thinning out my own collection and have decided to let this classic Lator go to a new home. I purchased it at auction back in 2003 and other than having the chronograph function repaired it has not been touched since and has never been worn whilst in my ownership.

The overall condition reflects the lack of use and believe our picture tells the full story. The steel body, bezel and crystal are all in remarkably good shape, as is the stunning black dial. All the chrono functions work correctly with the top button starting the sweep second hand with the right hand subsidiary dual recording the elapsed time from 0 to 45 minutes. The bottom button stops the sweep second hand and elapsed time, whilst a further press zeros the second hand and the cumulative minute counter back to zero. The left hand subsidiary dial records seconds and continues to run independently of the chrono function. The central control is for standard manual winding.

I have personally never removed the screw watch back but when purchased I had a colleague who specialised in clocks and watches check it out. He advised the movement fitted is a very high quality Landeron 248 example. A little research via on line chat rooms indicated the following and I quote, with thanks to blogger Michael Stockton :- 'I've featured a couple Landeron pieces before and it's clear that this is the redheaded stepchild of vintage chronograph movements. Well, it shouldn't be, unless durable, easily repaired and accurate movements are ripe for disdain. You will get a legitimate vintage chronograph that boasts a movement so fool proof that it made chronographs available to the masses. Think of a Landeron 248 much like you would a Ford Model T and you're on the right track'. Certainly a great endorsement from one who knows!

The one oddity on this watch is the back plate is Broad Arrow marked and below 6B/551 and 2296/67. This would appear to indicate the watch had RAF associations but my limited research has failed to confirm this. I have again found online a chat room advising of a Lator chronograph carrying similar makings to ours with debate, concerning its origins, but again no final decision was reached. So in view of this (and unlike some E bay sellers we could name) we are offering as 'a military style chronograph' probably dating from the 1960's that sits well both on the wrist or in a specialist collection. Whilst it appears to be in good working order it has not been serviced in at least 15 years but we will leave that decision to the new owner. It is fitted with an appropriate mint and unused grey nylon NATO strap by CWC and as with all our stock please ask if you require further detailed photographs.