Joseph Siffert, July 7, 1936 – October 24, 1971

A Couple of Siffert 3-6-9-12 Subdial Adverts...

First edition, early Chronomatic 3-6-9-12 dial with horizontal lines across the hour markers.
Non-Chronomatic main dial, 3-6-9-12 hour sub-dial but with same 1st edition hour markers (ad printed end of 1969). Note the pointed 'V' in Autavia and the placement of 'AUTOMATIC' below the subdials.
And below we have a later style, again with same 3-6-9-12 hour sub-dial but with next generation hour markers.
Note this time the placement of 'AUTOMATIC' in line with the subdials.I guess this makes my 'Schmitz' style 3-6-9-12 a transitional model immediately following the 'Chronomatic' version.

3-6-9-12 Siffert

3-6-9-12 Siffert, early Chronomatic style hour markers, steel hands, 14* serial number, 1163 Schmitz type case, early Cal11 movement, original 3/69 G/F bracelet.Note the flattened base of the 'V' in 'AUTAVIA', the position of 'AUTOMATIC' above the base of the subdials and the angled facets between the lugs and the brushed case-top.

Schmitz Type Cases - the same, but different.

While cleaning up a new arrival I noticed something strange...
The case on the right in each photo is serial No. 14* and the case on the left is a 27*.
Spot the difference? The 14* has a bearing at the 7 O'clock position under the bezel.
Does this help in any way to settle the discussion that these cases, the 14*, were around in the early days of the Automatic Autavias?
I hope so.

Actually another thought...this 14* Siffert came with a '69 G/F bracelet with HLD end-pieces which match the case perfectly - no spearing your palm fitting them :-)

Monaco 1133B Steve McQueen - correct hands.

Replaced the service hands (narrow lume stripe) with a set of genuine originals - way better :-)