Angelus Collectors Guide
Angelus Collectors Guide
Angelus Collectors Guide
Collector’s Guide.
New edition.
Text: Christoph Öhm-Kühnle.
2 – The three founders of Angelus: the brothers Albert, 3 – Gold medal for Angelus/Stolz frères for pocket
Gustave, and Charles Stolz (left to right). watches, International Exhibition in Paris 1902.
This text was published earlier in Klassik Uhren 6/2016. The translated and extended reprint by permission of Ebner Verlag. The
journal issue in German is available online at www.watchtime.net.
New edition, Febr. 20th, 2017.
Some Angelus watches already achieved top
results at auctions, among them the excep-
tionally rare repetition wrist watch “Tinkler”.
The famous diver watches made by Panerai,
equipped with Angelus watch calibers, also
already are extremely sought-after, such as the
diver’s watches1 with eight day movements and
the prototypes of the Panerai diver’s chrono-
graph “Mare Nostrum” with Angelus chrono-
graph movement. For the history of watch-
making the watches of Angelus are also of .
importance, because of several pioneering
innovations.
31
24 – “Dateclock”, advert from 1936.
28 - “Foursome” unique travel clock with four separate 29 - “Kamaluxe”, the smaller version of the
displays, 1937. “Folioluxe”, ca. 1947.
30 - “Sixsome” – top of the line travel clock with six 31 - “Multitime”, full calendar travel clock with
separate displays: barometer, hygrometer, thermome- moonphase and separate worldtime display, ca. 1948.
ter, compass, eight day alarm clock, full calendar, ca.
1940.
32 – Table alarm clock “Super” with thermometer and 33 – Carillon table clock, SF 160, ca. 1940ies.
barometer, eight days power reserve, ca. 1940ies.
34 - Table clock “Descodate”, eight days power reserve, 35 - Table clock “Planéte avion”, eight days power
ca. 1940ies. reserve, multiple displays, ca. 1941.
36 - Table clock with eight days power reserve, multiple 37 - Table clock with eight day-calibre, ca. 1950.
displays, ca 1950.
38 - Extremely rare early
print ad for watches of the
250-calibre family, dating
before the production start
and showing two different
model names than actually
were used.
The inner pages of the
ad show the cal. 255 and
252 models, but with the
names “Astrodate” and “Dato-
luxe”. The “Datoluxe”
later was the model of the
moonphase version, the
cal. 252 model was named
“Chrono-Datoluxe”. The ad
very likely was printed between
1945 and 1948. It was recently
discovered by Dr. Sébastien
Chaulmontet.
An advert for the highly original Angelus table stores and auctions. However, today many of
clock “Naveo” was published in the year 1936 these watches have refinished dials and re-
(picture 26); the clock is shaped like a ship’s placed parts (please see the detailled info on
steering wheel and has the same four displays dial logos, movement signatures and serial
as in the model “Foursome“: an eight day- numbers in the appendix of this article). Oth-
clock, full calendar, barometer and thermom- er brands also sold the “Chronodato”, signed
eter.32 The “Naveo” was made in many differ- on the dial and sometimes also on the move-
ent case designs, some models were signed by ment with their logos, among them Tourneau,
“Türler”.33 From the 1940ies on, a new, ex- Minerva, Augustus, Alpina, Abercrombie &
quisitely designed “Naveo”-version was made, Fitch, Henglebert, and Revue. Most Angelus
with signs of the zodiac surrounding the steer- chronographs in these years show four small
ing wheel. red markers in units of three minutes at the
In 1941 the Angelus manufacture had moved minute counter, for timing telephone calls.
to the Rue Piaget No. 12 in Le Locle; now The Angelus movement SF 215 with 45 mi-
having already about 90 skilled employées.34 nute-counter was also used for the legendary
André Stolz, son of Albert Stolz, became in military diver chronograph “Radiomir Mare
the same year director of Angelus.35 The 50th Nostrum” by Panerai (see picture 21), there-
anniversary of Angelus in 1941 was celebrated fore proving the high esteem of this calibre –
also with a large catalog and by presenting with a huge steel case of 52 mm diameter and
especially engraved watches to 12 persons dark green dial. Just very few prototypes were
(among them a chronograph wristwatch en- made, of which only three are known at the
graved and given to a Mr. Ali Bühler, shown moment, making this watch very likely today
in an article 1941).36 the most expensive vintage watch with Angelus
In 1942, Angelus launched the “Chronodato” movement. Christie’s Geneva sold in the year
(pictures 39a and b):37 a large, impressive 2005 the so far best preserved sample of this
chronograph with 45min. counter and full model, for 132 000 Swiss Franks (lot 343, see
calendar. In contrast to a similar model made picture 21, © Christie’s Images Limited
by Patek Philippe just a bit earlier, the 2016). In the 1990ies Panerai made new ver-
“Chronodato” soon became popular and was sions of the “Mare Nostrum” in different de-
sold world-wide in large numbers and in mani- signs (containing modified ETA- and Minerva-
fold beautiful designs. Among the famous calibres), which are also highly collectible.
people who owned a “Chronodato” was the Around 194040 Angelus manufactured a small
very first BBC TV-commentator Leslie number of large sized wristwatches (38 mm
Mitchell (his watch is signed on the dial by the case diameter), see picture 41, with indirect
retailer “Tourneau”).38 A slight confusion sweep seconds and better water resistance
about the “Chronodato” model name was than usual: their case back (either snap back
caused by an early ad from 1942, in which the or screwed-down) has a broad interior edge, is
name is “Chronodate”. The calendar calibre protected by a rubber gasket inside, and sits
SF 217 of the “Chronodato“ is based on the very tight. It is marked “Hermetic” on the
movement SF 215, which was first made in outside. Several dial versions exist, mostly with
the 1930ies39 and besides minor changes is silver-colored, rarely also with copper-colored
almost identical to its predecessors SF 210 or black dial, all with luminescent hands and
and SF 15, all with 14’’’ size. It was available hour numbers, and always the Angelus logo of
also with high quality movement finissage. An the type D2 in soft Art déco style, on some
early version of the “Chronodato” had a dif- silver dials also as negative print (see picture
ferent dial design, with “Base 1 Mile“-scale 41 and appendix). Their movement is the cal.
and markers instead of the 12 und 6; its most 216SC, which is identical to the SF 215, but
rare version however is a doctor’s watch with a without chronograph module and with sweep
pulsation scale below the chronograph’s sec- seconds and shock protection. There was also
onds’ scale. The “Chronodato” became the a smaller version of the “Hermetic” for ladies,
most famous and probably best sold watch in the same design. It was equipped with the
made by Angelus and nowadays still can be 10 ½‘‘‘-caliber Lavina/Angelus 56SC (1948/49
found for reasonable prices in vintage watch renamed as 120SC),41 with shock protection.
39a – The famous “Chronodato” - a chronograph with 39b – “Chronodato”, here the beautiful version with
full calendar (cal. SF 217), made from 1942 on, here dark dial, logo D3, ca. 1945.
the version with silver dial, logo D3, ca. 1945.
40 – Chronograph “Chrono 12” with cal. SF 250, silver 41 – Large water resistant watch with sweep seconds,
dial with logo D3, made from 1945 on. cal. 216SC; here the rare version with Roman numerals
(most have Arabic numerals), logo D2, ca. 1940.
42a – Military chronograph for the Hungarian air force, 42b – Case back of the Hungarian air force chrono-
calibre SF 215, here the version with the seconds scale graph, engraved on the back “L.E.” (Légi Erö = Hun-
outside the tachymeter scale (a version with the ta- garian for air force).
chymeter scale at the outside also exists), logo D3, the
“L.E.”-military version made between 1948 and 1950.
43 - Three beautiful and rare watches of the 250-calibre
family with digital date display: “Dato 12”, “Chrono-
Datoluxe” and “Datoluxe”, ca. 1948.
44 – Rare calendar watch with moonphase, cal. SF 253; 45 – Rare sweep seconds watch with cal. 251SC with
several dial versions exist, made from ca. 1950 on. Incastar regulator, here the rarest version, with black
dial, made from 1945 on.
A second, just as rare version of the sweep with separate worldtime display.44 The first of
seconds-watch was made from ca. 1945 on, their many following horse shoe-shaped clock
now with new the in-house 12’’’-movement models was advertised 1948 by Angelus (in
251SC, see picture 45, one of the first two The Rotarian, Dec. 1948).
models of the new calibre 250-family (see be- Soon after WWII, the Hungarian air force
low). The watch is a bit smaller, with different chose Angelus-chronographs as their pilot
case types (32-33 mm diameter), stainless watches (pictures 42a and b)45, the serial num-
steel, with pressed or screwed case back. An- bers date them all to the range of years be-
other, less expensive wristwatch with sweep tween 1948 and 1950 (see the serial number
seconds was made by Angelus from ca. 1945 chart in the appendix). These watches have all
on (picture 48), with chrome-plated case of black dials with luminous indexes and hands.
33mm diameter and logo D3. This model was All have steel cases and are equipped with the
equipped, as the ladies’ watch from 1940, with caliber SF 215 with 45 minute counter; the
the Lavina/Angelus 56SC/120SC. It was pro- case back is signed with the framed Angelus
duced very likely just in the second half of the logo, the serial number and the engraved ab-
1940ies (the hands design points to a produc- breviation “L.E.”, which stands for “Légi Erö”
tion time during the 1940ies, the logo D3 was (Hungarian for “air force”). Watches with
in use from 1945 on). Later, additional Ange- personal engravings from the Hungarian mili-
lus models with sweep seconds were made; tary environment are also known. The same
equipped with less rare non-Angelus calibres, chronograph model was also sold unmarked
mostly with Phenix 130SC, AS 1187 (and its to the public, therefore forged engravings
versions) and later also with AS 1539 (and its might be encountered (since the markings
versions).42 almost double the prize of the watch).
In the 1940ies, Angelus also advertised the In 194546 Angelus launched its new, smaller
„Sixsome“, a top of the line eight day-alarm chronograph calibre SF 250 (12’’’, 30-minute
travel clock with separately displayed full cal- counter), named as “Chrono 12” (no watch
endar, barometer, thermometer, and now also with this addition on the dial is known yet,
hygrometer and compass (picture 31). The although it is shown in an early ad), see pic-
high quality travel clocks “Barodate“, “Baro- ture 40.47 It was the basic calibre for the soon
luxe” and „Senadate“ also were advertised by after in 1948 released and today most rare
Angelus in the 1940ies (all in foldable leather chronograph made by Angelus, the “Chrono-
cases), as well as the calendar table clock Datoluxe”48 (cal. 252, the patent no. 261432
„Descodate“ (picture 35). The unique eight for its date module is enclosed here in the
day-table clock „Planète avion” further was appendix), see pictures 1 and 43 (center), the
advertised in the 1940ies; with its globe- first wrist chronograph ever with digital date
shaped case and attached airplane being not display, achieved through two separately turn-
just a clock, but indeed a sculpture (picture ing date discs. On the dial also the weekday
36). Many similar models in globe cases but and moonphase are displayed. Angelus fur-
without airplane were sold during the next ther from ca. 1948 on made calendar watches
years (picture 37). with digital date display based on cal. 250, but
From 1945 on the travel clock “Foliodate” without chronograph: the moonphase version
with full calendar was first sold (ref. 712); “Datoluxe” (picture 43, at the right), without
shortly after, the version “Folioluxe” with ad- moonphase as “Dato 12” (picture 43, at the
ditional moonphase came on the market (see left). A watch just with central seconds was
picture 27).43 A smaller version of the “Folio- already made from 1945 on, as one of the first
luxe” is the “Kamaluxe”, also with moonphase models of this family, with the cal. 251SC (pic-
(picture 29). Also appearing in adverts at the ture 45). A rare model with date hand, week-
latest from 1945 on (such as by De Vries, Zur- day window, and moonphase was also made
ich) are carillon table clocks, with the high (cal. 253 “CLD phase de lune”), which came
quality 26’’’-calibre SF 160, striking full and from ca. 1950 on on the market (picture 44).
half hours (see also picture 33). In 1947, the It was made in at least two dial versions: with
new travel clock “Multitime” was first adver- Arabic numbers for all hours (as seen in pic-
tised (picture 31), an eight day-alarm clock ture 44) and one with index markers instead
of uneven numbers (ref. 253/04, in the year
1951 presented as novelty49), always with the
logo type D3 in double frame (see also the
logo classification in the appendix). An extra
was the Incastar regulator, which was available
for some movements of the SF 250-family. An
automatic version of the moonphase watch
with date hand was also made in very few
numbers around 1950, with ETA movement.
The Certina “E4” chronograph with full cal-
endar (see picture 46) was made around 1950
very likely just as a prototype, with the SF 250
as the basic calibre and a smaller version of
the calendar module of the “Chronodato”, its
design being a small version of the “Chrono- 46 – The possibly unique Certina “E4” chronograph,
a smaller “Chronodato” version, but with the 12’’’-
dato”. Just one watch of this type is known. calibre SF 250 and a new calendar module.
In 1954, Angelus first sold its new extra slim
automatic watch with date window, see picture
47 (this sample also signed by Hour Lavigne),
with the calibre AS 1476 N and an extra slim
date module.50 The etxra slim automatic watch
was also available without date.
In 1957/195851 the model “Datalarm” came
on the market, the first alarm wristwatch with
date (AS movement with date module). The
model was made over many years in numer-
ous dial and case designs. The first version
was ref. 10/11 (see the first advert in picture
52). From 1967 on, the “Datalarm” was made
with world-time dial, the rarest version today
(picture 49).52 There are two dial versions, with
either the city names Paris or Stockholm, the
later one in red. From ca 1960 on the “Data-
larm” was sold as pocket watch and alarm 47 – The first automatic watch made by Angelus
clock as well (picture 50). A novelty of 1954 (here signed also by Hour Lavigne), with calibre
AS 1476 N, made also without date, 1954.
was the small “Horse-Shoe” alarm clock with
eight day-movement, ref. 857, a new version
of Angelus’ earlier travel clock. It was in 1956
again redesigned, as the ref. 917 and 927.53
The horse-shoe design was ca. 1980 again
used, for a ladies quartz wristwatch in massive
gold or silver case.54n 195755 Angelus launched
the extra slim wristwatch model “Rapier”, in
simple but elegant design with several dial
versions: with hour indexes as ref. 10/14 and
with partially Arabic hour numbers and hour
indexes as ref. 11/14 (see picture 53), always
equipped with FHF56 calibres. This watch was
the first model of Angelus with the new dial
logo without frame (the design of the watch
hands now also is different) – these compari-
48 – Sweep seconds watch with the Lavina/Angelus
sons can help to date other watches and judge calibre 56SC/120SC with Incabloc shock protection,
the originality of their parts. ca. 1945.
In 1958, Angelus started selling the automatic
date watch “Datographe”, which in the origi-
nal ad from 195857 (see picture 54) also was
named “Rapier thin automatic calendar”,
therefore being an automatic date version of
the “Rapier”; Shown are six design versions
with the ref. numbers 10/15 up to 15/15, al-
ways equipped with the AS-movement 1701
with 21 jewels. There was also a version of the
slim automatic watch “Datographe” without
date (with AS 1700).
In the same year, 1958, Angelus also started
selling the nowadays legendary waterproof
repetition wristwatch “Tinkler”, the worldwide
first automatic wristwatch with repetition (pic-
ture 51). The movement is a quarter repeater
(based on the AS 1580), which is activated by 49 – “Datalarm” with worldtime dial, here the “Paris”
a pusher at the 9 (picture 51, on the left: origi- dial version, 1967.
nal demonstration watch without dial and with
see-through back). The repetition module was
invented by Alfred Louis Golay for Angelus;
the patent was filed in 1958 and registered in
1960 (see the patent no. 344955 in the ap-
pendix). The sales were not as good as ex-
pected, so the production was stopped after
just very few watches; the exact number is not
known. Two dial versions exist: one in white
with applied gold or silver colored markers,
one in silver color with a white Maltese cross
in the center. An extremely well preserved
“Tinkler” was sold in 2013 through an online
auction for 10000 US$. A year later, a very
lucky buyer managed to get a watch of the
50 – “Datalarm” pocket watch, ca 1960.
Maltese version for just 1800 Euro (at Lauritz
auctions, Hamburg).
54 – First advert for the “Datographe”, also named 55 – Advert for repeater pocket watches (Angelus was
“Rapier thin automatic calendar”, 1958. at the time already owned by Evaco SA), 1977.
In 1958 Angelus seized to manufacture wrist-
watch calibres (except modules which were
added to other movements, such as for alarm,
date or repetition). Wristwatch models sold by
Angelus around 1960 were often equipped
with the hand-winding calibre AS 1686. Other
wristwatches, which were made by Angelus in
the 1960ies and 70ies, were equipped either
with the ETA-calibres 2512, 2510, or the cali-
bres Felsa 22 or Peseux P 7000. Small lady’s
watches mostly have the movements AS 1017
or FHF 59N inside.
In the 1960ies Angelus made again several
interesting chronographs, among them a rare
model for doctors, with pulsation and breath
frequency scale, with magnifying section in the 56 – Angelus chronograph with 12 hour register, “pan-
crystal (picture 58), equipped with a modified da dial”, calibre Valjoux 72, “5 atmos” waterproof.
Valjoux 22 without minute counter. In the
anniversary catalog from 1966 this watch is
shown as two-pusher version;58 some of the
doctor’s watches have the additional signature
“Medical” on the dial.
Also, Angelus made chronographs with the
Valjoux calibre 72, with 12 hour-counter (the
movements are usually not signed by Ange-
lus), such as a chronograph with “panda dial”
and rotating bezel (see picture 56), and a
chronograph in plain design (see picture 57).
An interesting electric wristwatch was made by
Angelus at the end of the 1960ies, which today
57 – Angelus chronograph with 12 hour register, calibre
is very rare (picture 63); the watch has the Valjoux 72.
Landeron 4750 inside, the very first electric
Swiss watch calibre (with a balance and In-
cabloc shock protection). Other electric wrist-
watch models were also made by Angelus.
The first electric alarm clock of Angelus was
sold in 1967.59 In the late 1960ies/early
1970ies Angelus also made a very interesting
electric desk clock with worldtime display (see
picture 59); the hour of every timezone is au-
tomatically changed.
In 197660 Angelus again made a remarkable
wristwatch: a 5 minute-repeater. Given the
extreme rarity of these watches today, only
very few have been made. The repetition
module is attached to the ETA 2801 and was
developed by Dubois Dépraz in the famous
Vallée de Joux.61 This watch was made in sev-
eral case versions, with smaller case and push- 58 – Angelus doctor’s dial-chronograph with cal.
er at the “2” (see picture 62)62 and with broad- Valjoux 22, here the mono-pusher version (also made
as two-pusher). Some watches have “Medical” on the
er oval case, either with pusher at the “2”63 or dial. Here with original crystal with magnifier section.
at the “7” (see pictures 60 and 61).
59 – Early Angelus electric table clock with automatic
worldtime display, ca. 1970.
60 – The 5-minute-repetition wristwatch made by Ange- 61 – Movement of the repetition wristwatch in picture
lus, ETA 2801 with module by Dubois Dépraz, 1976. 59, ETA 2801 with module by Dubois Dépraz, 1976.
62 – The 1976 repetition wristwatch, here in a different 63 – Early Angelus electric wristwatch with Landeron
case version, same calibre as in picture 60. 4750, the first electric Swiss calibre, late 1960ies
A repetition watch of the same design, but tional watchmaking with avantgarde design
signed by the label “Déesse/La Chaux-de- (“retrofuturistic”, as Nicholas Manousos put
Fonds” is also known. A similar, but skeleton- it). The prize of 110000 US$ limits the range
ized repetition wristwatch also exists (with the of potential byers to millionaires.
oval case design); it is unsigned and therefore In 2016, Angelus presented three new, unique
very likely is a protoype. In general, skeleton- wristwatches: the U20 (picture 66), an ultra-
ized pocket and wrist watches of different skeletonized tourbillon-wristwatch, with the
quality levels were sold by Angelus from the completely new calibre A-250 (flying 1 min.-
1970ies on, possibly until the 1990ies. tourbillon, diameter 32,6mm, 18 jewels,
However, at the latest in 1977, the company 21600 bpm, 90h power reserve). The main
Evaco SA, Neuchâtel (which also owned the plate at the same time is the dial, made of
brands Evaco, Everswiss and Continental) had sapphire crystal, therefore the watch indeed
bought the brand Angelus (which still re- exceeds all previous skeletonized watch de-
mained in Le Locle, as the separate address signs (hence the term “ultra-skeletonized”).
on an advert from 1977 shows, see picture The bridges are made of titanium and are
55). 64 From then on, again pocket watches nicely finished. The case also is made of tita-
with Angelus signature were made (some were nium as well as of carbon fibre, with sapphire
identical to Evaco pocket watches), see picture crystals, measuring 42mm in diameter and
55. Some of the repetition pocket watches 10,3mm in hight. The production of this
were equipped with the same calibre of their unique watch is limited to the small number of
repeater wristwatch from 1976 (ETA 2801 18.
with Dubois Dépraz module), some were also The second novelty in 2016 was the superb
made with skeletonized design. skeletonized, automatic rattrapante flyback
Angelus alarm clocks were still advertised in chronograph U30, with double column wheel,
1979.65 When the production of Angelus ex- tourbillon and power reserve display (picture
actly was stopped is not known (files of these 67). It uses the newly developed A-150 calibre
years do not exist anymore), possibly in the with 37,6mm diameter, 38 jewels and 45h
1990ies,66 because the brand was owned until power reserve, adjusted to five positions. The
1997 by Evaco SA67. case has two sapphire crystals and 47mm di-
In 2011, the renowned Swiss manufacture La ameter (17mm hight) and is made from titani-
Joux-Perret bought the Angelus brand.68 Ange- um. The production is limited to 25 watches
lus from then on was based in the traditional at a prize of 55600 Swiss Franks each.
Swiss watchmaking city La Chaux-de fonds. The third watch presented in 2016 was the
The superb, high-end watches built by Ange- U40 “Racing Tourbillon Skeleton” (picture
lus since then are all highly collectible; there- 65). The hand-wound watch with especially
fore, the first models are presented here, too. shock protected main plate and bridge con-
Under the leadership of Frédéric Wenger and struction has the newly constructed A-300
the director of innovation, Dr. Sébastien calibre inside, with 1 min.-flying tourbillon
Chaulmontet (who additionally is an im- and 60h (!) power reserve, with 23 jewels, ad-
portant collector of vintage Angelus watches justed to five positions. The watch has a titani-
and therefore is able to base his inventions um case with sapphire crystals, 32,8mm diam-
also on the tradition of Angelus), a completely eter and 10mm hight. There are two versions
new 1 minute-flying tourbillon calibre was of this watch, one has hands with white tips,
developed: the Angelus A-100. It is used in one with red tips. The prize of this watch
the first watch launched in 2015 by Angelus, model is just 26360 Franks.
the U10 “Tourbillon Lumière” (picture 64);
the production was limited to 25 watches.
The design of the U10 is meant to reminis-
cence the separate displays in vintage Angelus
clocks. The U10 is a large watch, with a case
size of 62,75 x 38mm, and has a linear power
reserve display. The design of the watch and .
movement are exceptional, combining tradi-
64 – “U10 Tourbillon Lumiére”, cal. A-100, 2015. 65 – “U40 Racing Tourbillon Skeleton”,
cal. A-300, 2016.
66 – “U20”, ultra-skeletonized tourbillon, cal. A-250, 67 – Automatic rattrapante flyback chronograph “U30”,
2016. double column wheel, tourbillon and power reserve
display, cal. A-150, 2016.
The author wishes to thank for their manifold advice:
Dr. Sébastien Chaulmontet, Balazs Ferenczi, Christian
Pfeiffer-Belli, Dr. Joël Pynson, Dr. Roland Ranfft, Dr.
Bernhard Huber, Konrad Knirim, Michele Galizia,
Klaus Zimmermann, Wolfgang Stegemann, Wolfgang
Mattes, Moritz Sauer, Hans-Jürgen Neeb, Herrn
Metsch, Gisbert Joseph, and Dr. Klaus Pöhlmann.
Copyright notice
All photo copyrights are owned by Angelus SA, besides
the following: Heritage Auctions, Dallas/USA (4, 5),
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chronometrie (6, 54), Ebay-
member Russiangifts, Brooklyn/USA (7, 8), Artcurial,
Paris (10), Collection du Musée International d'hor-
logerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Suisse/Photo MIH (11,
18, 24), Sirbovone Vintage Watches, Buenos Aires
(12), Auktionshaus Cortrie, Hamburg (13, 14), Klaus
Zimmermann (16), CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. (20,
21), Henry’s Auktionen (22), Jose Pereztroi-
ka/perezcope.com (25), Matrux/Omegaforums.net (56),
Milan Racek/www.mila-pila.com (57), Gisbert A. Jo-
seph (60, 61), Joël Pynson (39b, 47, 58), Balazs
Ferenczi/fratellowatches.com (42), Christian Pfeiffer-
Belli (62), Arthur’s Watches/Chrono24-shop (63), and
the author (9, 23, 26, 41, 44, 45, 48, 52, 53, 55).
SF 250, 12’’’ (26,6mm), from 1945 on, two-pusher
Calibre finder chronograph, 30 min.-counter; versions with the same
basic chronograph calibre: SF 252 (moonphase and
Here, all wristwatch and pocket watch calibres windows for weekday and digital date with two discs,
manufactured by Angelus are described, as 28,8mm, from ca. 1948 on), 254 (windows for weekday
and digital date with two discs, 28,8mm, from ca. 1948
well as the earliest clock movements launched on). All: completely new calibre design, the hammer
until ca. 1945 (up to SF 240). Later clock cali- now with a “big head”.
bres are always marked on the movement with
name and production date, therefore they can SF 251SC, 12’’’ (26,6mm), from 1945 on, as SF 250,
be identified easily. Shown are also the little but with indirect sweep seconds and no chronograph;
versions with the same base calibre: SF 253 (with
known Lavina-calibres (which in some parts moonphase, date hand and window for weekday, from
catalogs are listed as Angelus calibres and ca. 1950 on), SF 255 (window for weekday and digital
might have been developed by both brands in date with two discs, 28,8mm, from ca. 1948 on), SF 256
cooperation, due to the completey new bridge (moonphase, window for weekday and digital date with
design compared to all earlier Lavina cali- two discs, 28,8mm, from ca. 1948 on).
bres). For two calibres the original name is not
known; here a new numbering for these is
introduced, with an added “N” (as abbrevia-
tion for “new”).
1. Wristwatches SF-N 9
SF-N 9, 9 ¼’’’ x 14 ¼’’’ (in an Angelus advert from
1935 mentioned as 10 ½’’’ calibre) (21x32mm), ca
1930, small rectangular calibre with eight days power
reserve (actually with ten days power reserve).
SF 190 RR SF 190 RC
SF 240 SR SF 240 SC
2. Pocket watches and early clocks
Type 2 (the middle version of cal. 215 An important aid for identifying refinished (and there-
and first version of cal. 217, from ca. fore less valuable) dials and also for assessing the manu-
1942 until ca. 1950). facturing date of a watch is to know the original brand
logo designs. However, this should always be combined
with examining other aspects, such as serial number,
dial and case design, and watch hands. Clocks do some-
times have different logos, so the following list is not
completely valid for these, but for Angelus pocket and
wristwatches.
Type F1