I posted pictures of this 1940’s Bovet Valjoux 77 vintage chronograph, as I received it, in November, 2018. Having one of every affliction, I asked ClockSavant Instagram followers to comment as to whether I would successfully restore it. In this post I share details of its restoration. On occasion I choose to restore watches such as this for their horological significance and as symbols of perseverance and survival for a future owner. Restoring them is obviously not profitable. The watch will be available for purchase on the ClockSavant website in the coming days. The Valjoux 77 movement is a predecessor of the Valjoux 92 and a harbinger of what was to come decades later as manufacturers sought to streamline machine-driven manufacturing and limit use of more difficult to manufacture milled components. The Valjoux 77 combined a traditional column wheel with an enormous number of wire springs which successfully mimicked the milled components of its predecessors. As highlighted in the pictures, the watch required complex hairspring manipulation, a new balance staff, truing of the balance, new jewels with endshake adjustment, corrosion remediation and polishing, hand polishing & repair, repair and correction of key chronograph components that had been bent, manufacturing of replacement wire springs where required, modification of a replacement crown stem to within .07mm evenly across all sides as this early Valjoux 77 winding pinion differed from all historical supply house dimensions, integrated pusher repair, and repeated cleaning by hand and machine. The watch is now beautiful once again and running very nicely, exceeding my expectations and exuding a great deal of character and positive energy. The watch’s screw-back integrated pusher early water resistant design (no longer water resistant) and beautiful blued hands with blue telemeter register on the dial reflect Bovet’s classic style and quality.
