For sale we have a standout mid 1970s LIP Mach 2000 watch, designed by Roger Tallon. It has an anodised aluminium case which is a dark grey/blue tone, which has aged. The dial is a bright blue having the white signing with large baton style hands and date at 6 O’clock. The crown is offset at 2 O’clock and sits within a cut out in the case. It has the rubber ball design that is a prominent piece of the overall design. The screw case back is signed as Stainless Steel. Inside is the German made Durowe Duromat INT 7525/2 automatic movement, with quickset date. It is keeping time to within +40 seconds a day.
The dial is a bright and balanced design. It has a blue chapter ring around the exterior which has the minute/second markers with thicker markers for the 5 minute graduations. The date window is at 6 O’clock and this straddles the flat face and the chapter ring. Below it is signed ‘Made In France’. The dial is signed Lip below 12 O’clock, with automatic above 6 O’clock.
The case is impressive and measures 31.5mm wide, by 40.3mm in length. It has a depth of 10.75mm, with a lug-to-lug measurement of 20mm, allowing for a good-sized strap. It is formed of aluminium with an anodised coating in a grey/blue tone. The front is lighter due to ageing. The case is designed with the cut out for the rubber ball crown with is a bright blue tone, matching the dial. The case back is Stainless Steel and screws in place. The inside is signed with the LIP name and is marked with the reference 613540.
Inside is a Durowe calibre INT 7525/2. It has a jewel count of 25, is automatic and has a quickset date function. It has a frequency of 21,600 BPH and has Duroswing shock protection. The service history is unknown, but it is good running condition. It’s keeping time to within +40 seconds a day.
LIP and Roger Tallon:
A watch is often viewed through the lens of a utilitarian device, focused on function and accuracy. The real joy of the LIP watches designed by Roger Tallon comes from the incorporation of playfulness into watch manufacturing.
In 1972 he set up the agency Design Programmes which operated as brother-in-arms with the LIP watchmakers. In 1972 he was approached by LIP to design a new series of sports watches. He proposed the Mach 2000 collection, a striking array of forward thinking designs, many with asymmetrical cases.
Roger Tallon:
Roger Tallon was a French Industrial designer.
He studied as an engineer between 1944-1950 and was then employed by Caterpillar France and DuPont. In 1953 he joined Technes, the technical and aesthetic studies office, which was founded in 1949 by the father of industrial aesthetics, Jacques Vienot and Jean Parthenay. After a series of rapid promotions, he become the technical and artistic director, finally being sole director after Vienots death in 1959.
In 1957 he enrolled at the School of Applied Arts, in Paris and put in place the first design course in the country.
As a consultant for the US company General Electric, Tallon designed refrigerators and washing machines, setting up the design department of the company. In 1966 the Teleavia P111 portable television was put on the market, against the Boards advice. It subsequently broke the mould of TV design and was a huge commercial success, developing a cult following.
He had a remarkably varied half-century as a design, trying his hand at everything from staircases, chairs, watches, televisions and the French TGV Atlantique bullet train. He also created a concept aircraft cabin for Air France.
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
A further condition report is below.
Dial:
The dial is original and is in good condition, with no obvious signs of ageing or discolouration.
Hands:
The baton style hour and minute hand are original. They are white painted and are in good condition, as is the second hand.
Glass:
The original acrylic crystal is in good condition with some slight age related marks.
Crown:
The crown is original and functions as it should. The rubber coating is known to age and there is a loss of some of the finish to the bottom. This is made clear in the images.
Case:
The case is anodised Aluminium and is in good, lightly aged condition. It has the matte finish. It is lighter on the front with exposure to sunlight.
Caseback:
The screw back is Stainless Steel and is in good condition. It has the brushed finish with some light marking. The engraving and serial number are clear.
Strap:
The watch is on a new blue leather strap which is non original.
Movement:
The movement is a Durowe INT 7525/2. It has a jewel count of 25 and is automatic. It has a frequency of 21,600 BPH and has Duroswing shock protection.
The service history is unknown, but it is good running condition. It’s keeping time to within +40 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 235 degrees and a beat error of 0.2m/s.
Case Dimensions:
Case width: 31.5mm
Case width diagonal with crown: 43.3mm
Case length: 40.3mm
Case Depth: 10.75mm
Lug width: 20mm