203 Invicta An unusual and original Invicta rectangular chronograph with single button

Estimate: € 8,500 –⁠ 15,000

Model: Chrono Sport
Material: stainless steel
Caliber: Rhodium plated, 15 jewels
Bracelet: leather strap
Dimensions: 23 mm
Signed: case, dial and movement

This watch is a very rare piece: according to Gisbert L. Brunner only 50 examples were made and is probable that a very low number has been made in the ’80s with spare parts. It is nice to notice that, while the watch was called “Chronomontre” when it was presented at the Basel Fair in 1933, the signature present on the dial was “Chrono-Sport”.
Invicta was created in 1837 by Raphael Picard in La Chaux-de-Fonds and his sons were managing the company by the end of the 19th century under the name Les Fils de R. Picard (R. Picard’s sons). They used to build their own movements in Delémont and Le Locle, and at the turning of the 20th century one of the most famous caliber from the company was a minute repeater, on which a chronograph was added, and was later called Invicta. Like for other companies, such as Omega or Lemania, the name of the caliber was then used for the company itself.