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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Mono-pusher chronograph

Ulysse Nardin Mono-Pusher Chronograph

Partially verified

This Ulysse Nardin mono-pusher chronograph is a vintage timepiece from the 1940s, housed in an 18-karat yellow gold case with a diameter of 40 millimeters. The watch is operated via a single push-button integrated with the winding crown to control the chronograph functions. The dial features a light-colored ground displaying blue telemeter and black tachymeter scales, paired with yellow gold hands and a distinct arrow-shaped minute-register hand. The movement is a manual-wind caliber based on the Valjoux 13, marked with the serial number 121068. The case back bears a French-language inscription commemorating Panos Pladelis and services rendered to the Swiss War Office for transport in Bern in 1942. The watch is provided on a leather strap manufactured by Bulang and Sons and includes a handmade leather pouch. The auction source reports that the watch has been fully serviced.

Front view of the Ulysse Nardin mono-pusher chronograph featuring blue telemeter and black tachymeter scales.
Front view of the Ulysse Nardin mono-pusher chronograph featuring blue telemeter and black tachymeter scales. — Bulang & Sons. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Wristwatch · Mono-pusher chronograph
Maker / attribution
Ulysse Nardin
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1942
Source-reported place
Switzerland
Source-reported serial
61053

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Dial

The watch is presented in a large, 40-millimeter diameter case constructed from 18-karat yellow gold. The design centers on the mono-pusher configuration, where a single button is positioned alongside the winding crown to activate, stop, and reset the chronograph mechanism. This layout maintains a clean aesthetic, focusing functionality through a singular interface.

The dial is finished in a light tone and incorporates two distinct mathematical scales: a blue telemeter scale and a black tachymeter scale. The hands are fashioned from yellow gold, complementing the case material. A notable feature is the minute-register sub-dial, which utilizes an arrow-shaped hand to display recorded intervals, providing a clear visual indication of elapsed time for the wearer.

Evidence for this section
  • “در قابی با ابعاد بزرگ و قطر ۴۰ میلی‌متر از جنس طلای زرد ۱۸ عیار”
  • “بهره‌گیری از یک دکمه فشاری برای کنترل عملکردهای کرنوگراف در کنار تاج کوک”
  • “صفحه ساعت دارای دو مقیاس مدرج محاسباتی شامل تله‌متر آبی‌رنگ و تاکی‌متر مشکی‌رنگ”
  • “عقربه فرعی ثبت دقایق کرنوگراف دارای طراحی شاخص پیکانی‌شکل است”

Movement and Inscription

The internal mechanics are powered by a manual-wind caliber built upon the Valjoux 13 movement. The movement is inscribed with the serial number 121068.

The case back serves as a primary source for the provenance of this specific example. It is engraved with an inscription in French, dated 1942, which refers to services provided to the Swiss War Office in Bern regarding transport. The inscription is dedicated to Panos Pladelis, who is associated in external historical interpretations with a Greek steamship during the Second World War.

Evidence for this section
  • “کالیبر دستی بر پایه موتور UN Valjoux 13 قرار دارد که با شماره‌سریال 121xxx حکاکی شده است”
  • “درب پشت قاب حاوی شماره‌سریال 6105xxxx بوده و نوشته‌ای به زبان فرانسوی روی آن نقش بسته”
  • “یادبودی برای Panos Pladelis و خدمات ارائه‌شده به اداره جنگ سوئیس در زمینه ترابری در شهر برن به سال ۱۹۴۲”

Provenance and Presentation

The object includes supplementary items provided by the seller, consisting of a leather strap produced by Bulang and Sons and a handmade leather carrying pouch. The auction report emphasizes that the watch has undergone a complete service, indicating it is currently in operational condition.

While the name Pladelis suggests a potential link to maritime transport during the global conflicts of the 1940s, the specific recipient remains a subject of interpretation provided by the source.

Evidence for this section
  • “ساعت به طور کامل توسط ساعت‌ساز سرویس شده و همراه با بند چرمی تولید Bulang and Sons و یک کیف چرمی دست‌دوز ارائه می‌شود”
  • “نام پادلیس اشاره به یک کشتی بخار یونانی در دوران جنگ جهانی دوم دارد”
  • “برند اولیس ناردین با سابقه‌ای درخشان در ساخت کرنومترها و ادوات دقیق زمان‌سنجی شناخته می‌شود”

Open research questions

  • What specific archival records might exist for the Swiss War Office transport department in Bern in 1942 that could clarify the role of Panos Pladelis?
  • Can the Valjoux 13 movement serial number be cross-referenced with production records to confirm the specific production year within the 1940s?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Ulysse Nardin Mono-Pusher Chronograph
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case material18-karat yellow gold“از جنس طلای زرد ۱۸ عیار”
Case diameter40 mm“قطر ۴۰ میلی‌متر”
Movement baseValjoux 13“بر پایه موتور UN Valjoux 13”
Chronograph typeMono-pusher“کرنوگراف تک‌دکمه (Mono Pusher)”
Movement serial121068“121xxx”
Case back serial610653“6105xxxx”
Commemorative engraving1942 Swiss War Office transport service“یادبودی برای Panos Pladelis و خدمات ارائه‌شده به اداره جنگ سوئیس در زمینه ترابری در شهر برن به سال ۱۹۴۲”
Service statusServiced by watchmaker“ساعت به طور کامل توسط ساعت‌ساز سرویس شده”

Visible details

  • Single pusher located at 2 o'clock position
  • Movement plate marked 'ULYSSE NARDIN' and 'SWISS'
  • Case back exterior features engraved inscription and a Swiss shield emblem
  • Interior of case back bears hallmark 18K 0.750 and serial number 610653

Research qualifications

  • The link between the name Pladelis and a specific Greek steamship remains an unverified historical suggestion
  • The original intended recipient of the watch is not confirmed by documentation

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

ساعت مچی کرنوگراف تک‌دکمه Ulysse Nardin طلا ۱۸ عیار دهه ۱۹۴۰

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record b03c937ff5

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

Other mono-pusher chronograph records