Wakmann Triple Calendar Chronograph

Looks aside, triple calendar chronographs are some of the most technically sophisticated watches out there. In an industry where anything beyond telling the time is known as a complication, a triple calendar combines three: day, date, and month. Moreover, adding another complication—such as a chronograph—only complicated matters further (no pun intended), resulting in a watch that is as complex as it is visually appealing. Faced with strictures and tariffs on Swiss watches in the 1930s, many Swiss brands entered into agreements with U.S.-based companies to import their products. In many cases, the watches would be sent in pieces to the distributors’ headquarters and then assembled and retailed. Breitling entered such an agreement with Wakmann in the 1940s, which would prove fruitful for both companies until the Quartz Crisis of the 1970s forced Wakmann to close its doors. Some watches from this era were actually co-signed as Breitling/Wakmann. However Wakmann also brought their own line of sporting timepieces to the market, including these brilliant calendar chronographs. The brand often utilized Breitling's supply chain of high grade components, but retailed their branded watches with entry level price points. Produced just before that time, these triple calendar chronographs are without a doubt some of Wakmann’’s most popular chronograph offerings. Powered by the Valjoux 730, it combines sporty appeal with technical precision in a way we can’t get enough of. The case of this particular watch, manufactured by Gigandet, is a substantial 37mm—perfectly at home on the modern wrist. And the dial is the ever-popular “reverse panda” configuration, livened up with a splash of red on the chronograph hand. Even in this Digital Age, a triple calendar chronograph has a touch of whimsy that we lovers of “cool old things” find absolutely delightful, and we’re sure you will too.