Leonidas

This time recorder/countdown watch was made for the Italian army, as the "cronografo a ritorno" inscription on the dial confirms.

This highly unusual and collectible piece has a black dial with a white outer 30-second register and a luminescent inner track graduated from 5 to 60 to calculate the distance in hectometers (100m).

The bomb aimers were placed at the front of the airplanes. Due to extreme conditions, they needed accurate tools that could be used with thick gloves. This chronograph for example has a lever to activate the crown that is both a pusher and the winding system. To avoid any false manipulation, the pusher at 1 o'clock could be locked by pressing and turning it.

Based on the altitude of the plane, the bombardier would set the distance by placing the luminescent arrow through the rotating bezel on the hectometer graduation. He would then start the chrono by pressing the crown. Once the chronograph hand has reached the arrow, it would be stopped by pressing the pusher at 1. As soon as the bomb is dropped, the bomb aimer would press the crown again and the chronograph would go backward, calculating the moment the bomb would hit the ground. It could then be stopped with the pusher and/or reset with the crown.

The inner hectometer track is exponential compared to the seconds graduation, as the speed, and so the distance, increases over time, due to gravity.

The ingenious system was supplied by Universal Genève through the retailer Cairelli or, more rarely, by Leonidas, like with the present lot.

The system with the lever pressed to activate the crown later inspired Graham and its chronofighter.