Olma Chronograph 1940's - 14K Gold Plated Case - Red Seconds Hand

Chronographs of the 1940s weren’t just instruments, they were precision tools carried through wartime, recovery, and the boom of modern aviation. Olma, a respected Swiss marque of the era, produced dependable chronographs that captured the spirit of their time: clean, functional, and elegant on the wrist.

This example tells that story in full. Its case, which was professionally replated in 14k gold, wears with a luster rarely found on survivors of this age, no brassing, no show-through, just a warm golden glow that recalls its original showroom presence. Against it, the silvered dial has gently mellowed with the decades, its Arabic numerals still bold and legible, its red chronograph hand offering a flash of color.

The two-register layout was the classic style of the day: running seconds at 9, a 30-minute totalizer at 3. Dauphine hands give the watch a sharp mid-century feel, bridging the elegance of the 1930s with the utility demanded in the 1940s. It’s easy to imagine a watch like this keeping time for an officer, a pilot, or simply a gentleman of means who valued Swiss chronometry at its finest.

Inside, a Landeron 48 the workhorse cam-switched chronograph of mid-century Switzerland. It uses the classic control sequence (top pusher to start/stop, lower pusher to reset) and is prized for sturdy construction, easy regulation. Watch runs well, the chronograph engages, the central seconds resets to 12 but sometimes it misses 12 by 1-2 mins. Probably needs a service even though it's running.

Because this watch has been freshly serviced, I provide a one-year limited warranty on the movement. If the movement develops a functional issue under normal use within one year of purchase, I will repair it at no cost for labor. This warranty does not cover anything related to the case, dial, hands, crystal, pushers/crown, bracelet/strap, or cosmetic condition, and it excludes any issue caused by external factors, including but not limited to impact or dropping, case damage of any kind, shock, improper use, tampering or attempted repair by anyone other than me, water or moisture exposure, humidity/condensation, magnetism, corrosion, loss of parts, or any other accidental or intentional damage. Any shipping costs associated with warranty service are the buyer’s responsibility unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Please review all photographs carefully for condition.

Water resistance of vintage watches is not guaranteed so care should be taken when wearing it.

All sales are final.