{"product_id":"lemania-monopusher-chronograph-ref-0552-924-3306-gloss-white-non-luminous-dial-w-moisture-indicator","title":"Lemania Monopusher Chronograph Ref. 0552\/924-3306 - Gloss White Non-Luminous Dial w\/ Moisture Indicator","description":"\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eLemania can trace its roots back to the Vallée de Joux, where it was founded in 1884 by Alfred Lugrin, a former Jaeger-LeCoultre craftsman with a talent for complicated movements. Operating first under his own name, Lugrin built a modest but formidable reputation through his chronograph work before his son-in-law Marius Meylan took the reins around 1930 and renamed the company Lemania.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eSurvival through the Great Depression came by joining forces with Omega and Tissot in 1932, and it was within the newly-formed alliance that Lemania's true legacy was forged: Every Omega chronograph movement for the next four decades, including the the iconic Calibre .321, would be supplied or closely based off Lemania calibres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eThe Quartz Crisis of the 1970s nearly unravelled it all, and by 1981 Lemania had separated from the group and reborn itself as Nouvelle Lemania. A decade later, Breguet brought it into the fold, and when the Swatch Group absorbed Breguet in 1999, the Lemania name was quietly retired — though its workshops now forming movements for Manufacture Breguet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe piece that we have here is a monopusher chronograph issued to the British Royal Navy for one very specific use-case.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike virtually every military-issued watch for decades prior be it a diver or for aviation, they were produced with luminous dials for legibility in generally low-light environments, at night, and for underwater use. In the 1970s, the luminous element of choice was Tritium, which while extremely low relative to its predecessor, Radium, does emit a radioactive signature. On nuclear-powered submarines, the worst case scenario is a reactor leak (see K19: The Widowmaker), so as a preventative measure, these subs had radiation detectors everywhere to monitor and ultimately prevent an almost certainly catastrophic event like a nuclear reactor meltdown. So, had the occupants been wearing watches with Tritium all over the dial and hands, the geiger readings would be completely inaccurate and constantly firing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThats where this piece comes in, with a dial devoid of any radioactive material. More on that later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stainless steel case comes in at 39.5mm in diameter with asymmetrical proportions, not dissimilar to a twisted-lug Speedmaster, where the right side of the case is thicker to partially conceal the crown. It also has ‘fixed’-bar lugs, a single pusher at the 2 o’clock position to operate the chronograph, and a screw-down caseback with the appropriate military engravings. Inside the dial features a crisp, stark white surface with printed black numerals, a black ‘Broad Arrow’ on the lower half, and a matching black ‘syringe’ handset. Not only is completely devoid of luminescent paint as we alluded to earlier, but it also features a moisture indicator just above the center post. Like a handful of dive watches, this round spot would change color in the event that moisture found its way into the watch. Very. Cool.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is powered by Lemania’s manually-wound Calibre and comes fitted with a very fitting NATO strap from Phoenix.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eNot only is this a piece of history, but when compared to other military-issued pieces from other brands, this actually is fantastic value, and they sure don't grow on trees!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oliver \u0026 Clarke","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52009999237437,"sku":"OC3251","price":8950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0765\/6138\/3741\/files\/LEMANIA_INCABLOC_CHRONO_STRAP_WEB_1_d310a99d-ccfa-42d9-bf6a-e9c46fb4ba66.jpg?v=1784764432","url":"https:\/\/oliverandclarke.com\/products\/lemania-monopusher-chronograph-ref-0552-924-3306-gloss-white-non-luminous-dial-w-moisture-indicator","provider":"Oliver \u0026 Clarke Vintage Watches","version":"1.0","type":"link"}