For sale we have a standout mid 1970s LIP Mach 2000 Electronic watch, designed by Roger Tallon. It has the Asymmetric D shaped, black tone anodised aluminium case, with the dial a black tone. It has the detailed white minute dashes with the date window set at 3 O’clock. The dial is signed LIP with the lightning bolt below, with the electronic signing above 6. The hour and minute hands are white painted baton style, with the standout bright orange central second with the lightning bolt counterbalance. The black ball 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 Stainless Steel and is marked with the reference 613500. Inside is has the in-house electronic LIP calibre R184. It is an electronic movement, powered by a battery, with the date function and sweeping seconds. It has been recently serviced and is keeping accurate time. The watch is presented on its original LIP rubber strap.
 
Examples as good as this, of the original Mach 2000’s, are very scarce. If you have been looking for one, don’t let this pass you by.
 
The electric watch was the first drastic watchmaking innovation in 100 years. Hamilton were the first to bring an electric watch to the market in 1957, which drew power from an energy cell the size of a button. LIP followed closely with the second electric movement, the calibre R27 in 1958, which was technically the first electronic movement, because of the use of a diode to reduce sparking on the contacts. 
The next generation in LIPs developments arrived in 1962 with the calibre R148. This required only one battery and coil, whereas the R27 needed two of each. This meant that both reliability and serviceability were increased with less components to cause issues. The next development was the R184 included a date and sweeping seconds had and was the first electric watch with date complication. 
 
There is one semiconductor inside the movement and a small diode to act as a spark suppressor diode. It minimizes wear of the contact pins which switch the red coloured coil on and off, thus becoming a magnet and driving the oscillation of the mechanical balance.
 
The R-184 movement was very popular especially due to LIP being the official timepiece of the French Olympic team and a favourite of Jacques-Yves Cousteaus dive team. 
 
This example:
 
The dial is sleek with the matte black base tone with the simple ‘LIP’ underlined with the lightning bolt and ‘Electronic’ signing in white. It has the dash minute/hour markers in white with the detailed 1/5th of a second graduations. The date window sits next to 3 O’clock and has the tapered design with the bevelled edge to the window. The date wheel is silver with the black numerals. The hour and minute hand are white painted and are of stick style. The central second hand is an eye-catching bright orange tone, with the lightning bolt counterbalance. To the base of the dial, it is proudly signed ‘Made In France’.
 
The is large for a vintage watch and has a strong presence on the wrist. It has a 44.25mm width and 40.8mm length. With a lug measurement of 20mm it allows for a good-sized strap. 
It is formed of aluminium with an anodised coating in a black tone. The case is designed with the cut out for the rubber ball crown with is a black tone. The case back is Stainless Steel and screws in place. The inside is marked with the reference 613500.
 
Inside is has the in-house electronic LIP calibre R184. It is an electronic movement, powered by a battery, with the date function and sweeping seconds. It has been recently serviced and is keeping accurate time. 
 
The watch is presented on its original LIP rubber strap which is in good vintage condition.
 
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. Roger Tallon, as an industrial designer, was well placed to break the mould of the wristwatch case.
 
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.
 
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 very good condition with no obvious marks or wear.
 
Hands: 
The hands are original and are in very good condition.
 
Glass: 
The original acrylic crystal is in decent condition with some age related marks to the surface.
 
Crown: 
The crown is original and functions as it should. The rubber coating is very good for the age with the colour remaining strong with no loss of material.
 
Case:
The case is anodised Aluminium and is in good condition with the even black tone. It has some light losses to the rear where the spring bars have been removed in the past. 
 
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 its original Rubber LIP band which is in good condition.
 
Movement: 
The movement is a LIP calibre R184. It is an electronic movement, powered by a battery, with the date function and sweeping seconds. 
 
The watch has been serviced. It is in good condition, keeping time to within 3 seconds variation a day.
 
Case Dimensions:
Case width: 44.25mm
Case width with crown: 48.75mm 
Case length: 40.8mm 
Case Depth: 12.5mm
Lug width: 20mm