The odd duck in my collection
This morning the sun decided to show me that it can still roast me alive despite the official winter. I don't mind warming myself and soaking up the sun like a lizard but it makes the task of getting some photos a bit challenging.
I can now understand why the guy at the camera shop seemed a bit surprised when I told him that I do like to take close up and macro photos, but I always do it outside in the sun.
Anyway, back to the Mathey-Tissot type XX.
It's a bit of an odd duck in my collection because it's the only hand wind watch that I own. My parents are terrible people and therefore they never bought me automatic watches when I grew up. I had to wait until I decided to collect watches to get my first automatic and since then that's pretty much all I had beside the quartz and digital.
The Type XX is the first and only manual wind watch that I bought with my own money and the first one that I'm wearing since the mid 70's.
It's also the only mechanical chrono that I own and the only bi-compax. Most of my other chronographs are either full quartz, like the SNA Flightmaster and the truly terrible WM01, or meca-quartz, and they all have three registers (even if one of them is completely useless like in the case of the Dan Henry 1962).
And so it's always a test when I decide to wear it, and I always check to see if I still like it, despite not being such a big fan of chronographs, or confirming for myself if it's weird having to hand wind a watch after nearly five decades of being care free about the whole issue.
And every time the answer I get back from my wrist is that it's a fine watch that I'm very happy to own and to wear, despite my misgivings about limited editions.
Which is another proof that I can be a positive guy when I put some efforts into it.
I'm a big fan of watches that are interesting because they are either unique, have interesting features, well designed or simply offer a great value for their price.
Man, youre lucky, it's 2⁰ F (-16⁰C) where I live, I'm missing the summer already with all the snow here too.
Man, youre lucky, it's 2⁰ F (-16⁰C) where I live, I'm missing the summer already with all the snow here too.
Luck is relative. I can understand why you might wish for a bit of sunshine but think about who my neighbors are and decide for yourself if it's worth it.
My little MT… teeny tiny military bumper… 😊
Like you, I only have one mechanical chronograph which is manual wind - which I think sometimes deters me from wearing it. Good job with the photos too 👍
My little MT… teeny tiny military bumper… 😊
The handset with the red second's hand and blued hours and minutes is fantastic.
Love these morning musings. And can fully relate to your motto: ‘I can be a positive guy when I put some efforts into it’ 😂
Re the XX: I wondered about that type indication - and why different manufacturers use that same indicator. Quick Google search:
Type 20 refers to a specification for pilot’s chronographs issued by the French Ministry of Defense. The unique feature of the Type 20 was the ‘flyback’ function, which allows the pilot to easily reset the chronograph hand, and quickly start timing a new event without the lag in time of pushing two more buttons.
Other characteristics of the original Type 20 chronographs were: a 38mm diameter and 14mm thick case, a black dial with luminescent indexes and hands, a mechanical movement with a power reserve of over 35 hours, a relative precision of + or – 8 seconds per day and finally, the capacity to withstand the running, stopping and resetting of the chronograph more than 300 times without causing any problems to the movement.
Along with Breguet, the other Type 20 manufacturers consisted of Airain, Auricoste, Dodane, Mathey Tissot, Seliva Chronofixe and Vixa.
Perhaps all old and rehashed stuff for this knowledgeable crowd - but new to me!
Love these morning musings. And can fully relate to your motto: ‘I can be a positive guy when I put some efforts into it’ 😂
Re the XX: I wondered about that type indication - and why different manufacturers use that same indicator. Quick Google search:
Type 20 refers to a specification for pilot’s chronographs issued by the French Ministry of Defense. The unique feature of the Type 20 was the ‘flyback’ function, which allows the pilot to easily reset the chronograph hand, and quickly start timing a new event without the lag in time of pushing two more buttons.
Other characteristics of the original Type 20 chronographs were: a 38mm diameter and 14mm thick case, a black dial with luminescent indexes and hands, a mechanical movement with a power reserve of over 35 hours, a relative precision of + or – 8 seconds per day and finally, the capacity to withstand the running, stopping and resetting of the chronograph more than 300 times without causing any problems to the movement.
Along with Breguet, the other Type 20 manufacturers consisted of Airain, Auricoste, Dodane, Mathey Tissot, Seliva Chronofixe and Vixa.
Perhaps all old and rehashed stuff for this knowledgeable crowd - but new to me!
One main difference between the original Type XX and the re-creation is the movement. The original had a flyback movement while mine has a standard Sellita SW510
Great watch and great Rivals of Ixalan spin down d20.