Of all my watches this is the one I have worn the most, for about 6 years constantly. My father paid about $150 for it in 1972 (must be about $1200 in today’s value) and gave it me for my 21st birthday.
The ridiculously bulky case and square hands, which was the fashion of the day, is as unstylish as watches ever got. To make it worse, the bracelet integrates poorly with the case and looks like it’s a cheap aftermarket addition. But at the time I thought it was a beautiful watch (I also thought the Troggs where musicians and Yoko Ono was a talented artist). Nevertheless I had many good comments on it.
Chronographs where THE sports watch of the day and there where no cheap ones on the market. If you where wearing a chrono, you paid big money (or at least your father did).
Roamers were popular with watchmakers because of their very robust, one piece case construction and good movements. This one is signed everywhere; dial, movement, back (in and out), crown, clasp and the glass.
I haven’t been very flattering about the styling of this watch but all is forgiven when considering the movement. The Valjoux 736 is not only, what I think, one of the best chronos of all time, but also one of the prettiest.
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