For sale we have a high quality and excellently designed watch. It is a 1950s Vixia Automatic wristwatch of Calatrava style. It has an early bi-directional Felsa 690 automatic movement. The movement is of the highest grade with a jewel count of 25 and a Reeds regulator. This watch has an excellent angular and curved Stainless Steel case, a beautiful notched crown, a textured waffle dial, quality applied hour markers, an inner seconds sector, a neat central second pointer and a high quality bidirectional automatic movement. With so many small design touches and quality aspects, this is an excellent and very appealing watch.
 
The first aspect your eyes are drawn to are the dial. It is an excellent dial design with a cream tone waffle textured finish. The dial is designed with a raised rectangular boarder around the Vixia signing, with a plain dial finish for the signing. The minute/second track is an usual inner circle that matches the near central second pointer. It has applied lume pips for the hour markers, with small circular silver dots for the minutes in-between. The hour markers are applied and are three-dimensional. They alternate between Arabic numerals and faceted coffin shaped hour markers. The dial is signed Swiss to the foot.
 
The circular case is formed of Stainless Steel and is in average original condition. It has quite a bit of light surface scratching consistent with age. It is a neat but well-designed case. The bezel is notched and has a flat edge, with neat chamfer leading up to the crystal. This is a small touch of design which completely alters the way in which the watch reflects the light. The sides of the case and the top and bottom between the lugs, are curved outwards. This creates a watch that wears larger than its strict 33mm measurement. It also provides another intriguing mix of texture to reflect the light. 
 
The case back is formed of Stainless Steel and is a screw back. It is in good condition, with surface scratching consistent with ageing. It has a polished finish. It is signed with the reference 25-690. Inside it has perlage finishing and is signed “Vixia Swiss Stainless Steel”.
 
The hands are of Dauphine style and are a silver tone. The lume in-fill to the centre is original and is dirty with signs of ageing. The central second hand is particularly well designed with an arrow pointer to the tip. 
 
The crown is original and is very nicely designed. It has 6 semi cylindrical notches to it which is needlessly ornate and a lovely piece of design.
 
The movement is a Felsa 690 with 25 jewels. This is the highest grade of the calibre as it came in lesser jewel counts. It also has a Reed’s regulator which wasn’t found on every model. It has a bi-directional rotor with a sweep central second hand. It has a frequency of 18,000 BPH with a power reserve of 44 hours. The service history is unknown, however the movement is in good condition keeping good time. It has a daily gain of +20 seconds, with an amplitude of 225 degrees and a beat error of 2.8m/s.
 
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
A further condition report is below.
 
Dial: 
The dial is in very good original condition. It is an excellent dial design with a cream tone waffle textured finish. The dial is designed with a raised rectangular boarder around the Vixia signing, with a plain dial finish for the signing.
The minute/second track is an usual inner circle that matches the near central second pointer. It has applied lume pips for the hour markers, with small circular silver dots for the minutes inbetween. The lume pips have aged to a lovely dark cream tone. 
The hour markers are applied and are three-dimensional. They are a silver tone which has slight signs of corrosion. They alternate between Arabic numerals and faceted coffin shaped hour markers. The dial is signed Swiss to the foot.
 
Hands: 
The hands are original. They are of Dauphine style and are a silver tone. They are in good condition. The lume in-fill to the centre is original and is dirty with signs of ageing. The central second hand is particularly well designed with an arrow pointer to the tip. 
 
Glass: 
The acrylic crystal is a replacement and is in perfect condition. 
 
Crown: 
The crown is original and is very nicely designed. It has 6 semi cylindrical notches to it which is needlessly ornate and a lovely piece of design.
 
Case:
The circular case is formed of Stainless Steel and is in average original condition. It has quite a bit of light surface scratching consistent with age. It is a neat but well-designed case. The bezel is notched and has a flat edge, with neat chamfer leading up to the crystal. This is a small touch of design which completely alters the way in which the watch reflects the light. The sides of the case and the top and bottom between the lugs, are curved outwards. This creates a watch that wears larger than its strict 33mm measurement. It also provides another intriguing mix of texture to reflect the light. 
 
Caseback:
The case back is formed of Stainless Steel and is a screw back. It is in good condition, with surface scratching consistent with ageing. It has a polished finish. It is signed with the reference 25-690. Inside it has perlage finishing and is signed “Vixia Swiss Stainless Steel”.
 
Strap: 
The strap is genuine leather for 18mm lug width. It will fit from a up to an 8 inch wrist diameter.  
 
Movement: 
The movement is a Felsa 690 with 25 jewels. This is the highest grade of the calibre as it came in lesser jewel counts. It also has a Reed’s regulator which wasn’t found on every model. It has a bi-directional rotor with a sweep central second hand. It has a frequency of 18,000 BPH with a power reserve of 44 hours. 
 
The service history is unknown, however the movement is in good condition keeping good time. It has a daily gain of +20 seconds, with an amplitude of 225 degrees and a beat error of 2.8m/s.
 
Case dimensions: 
Case width: 33mm 
Case width with crown: 36mm 
Case length: 33mm 
Case length lug to lug: 42mm 
Case Depth: 10.5mm 
Lug width: 18mm