Wittnauer Professional Chronograph 242T

As watches go, the 242T has story and lineage and charm — in fact, it deserves to rank alongside the Rolex Daytona and Omega Speedmaster as one of the great sporting chronographs of the 1960s.

Also, like the Speedmaster, the 242T was most likely submitted to NASA for the Qualification Test Procedures. Several of the great watch manufactures — Omega, Bulova, Wittnauer, and Rolex, to name a few — submitted watches for consideration in the Apollo space program. They were subjected to rigorous trials that pushed the watches to the very limit of their endurance. And though it was the Speedy that was ultimately selected for official NASA use, the 242T has come to enjoy beloved status amongst chronograph collectors worldwide for its unique looks, excellent proportions, and utilitarian design. 

This particular 242T features a 38mm stainless steel case with barrel pushers, an acrylic crystal, and an unsigned crown. Its signature feature is the classic 242T dial: matte black with tritium lume and a matching handset with a three-register chronograph layout and a wildly cool chapter ring in decimal time, which breaks a 24-hour day into 10 decimal hours consisting of 100 decimal minutes, each comprised of 100 decimal seconds. This feature was useful in aviation, and is fairly rare in chronographs, making the 242T unique.

Powered by the legendary Valjoux 72 manually-wound chronograph movement, this piece comes fitted to a well-suited, perforated Ralstra International rallye-style leather strap.

Why get a run-of-the-mill chronograph when you can spring for something this special?

From its inception in the 1880s, Wittnauer gained a reputation for its excellent complicated watches. Aviators like Amelia Earhart piloted their planes with instruments made by Wittnauer. Daredevil aviator Jimmy Mattern wore a Wittnauer AllProof in his attempted flight around the world in 1933. During the Second World War, the firm produced compasses for the U.S. military. And for decades, Wittnauer was inextricably tied with Longines — indeed, many of both brands’ wares from the mid-20th century are signed “Longines-Wittnauer Watch Co.”

In the 1950s and ‘60s, the brand produced exceptional chronographs at a more competitive price point than its Swiss contemporaries. Products such as the reference 3256, which used the affordable Venus caliber 188, are today relatively plentiful, and handsome to boot. Slightly more high-end pieces such as the reference 7004A featured unique elements like thick sword hands, a lollipop seconds hand, and a red count-up bezel. And the 242T Professional is well known to fans of the Space Race — supposedly submitted for trials in the 1960s against the likes of the Rolex Daytona and others, it may have very nearly beat out the Speedmaster to the Moon.

But like so many watch brands, Wittnauer folded in the face of budget crises in the mid-1980s, causing Longines to dissolve its relationship with the company. Despite this, vintage Wittnauer watches remain a testament to the company’s ingenuity and elegance, while some of their more unique pieces — like the Wittnauer 2000 mechanical calendar watch and their Super Compressor dive watch — can be had at relatively affordable prices.

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Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.