[F]#TBT A colorful Aerin regatta timer using the Valjoux 237

Flyback countdown chronograph, date display at 9 o’clock, 3Hz beat rate… a mic-drop meme would be enough to introduce the seemingly unique Airin Regatta chronograph, relaunched in France.

I’ve been following French graphic designer and watch collector David Renou, also known as @Super.Compressor on Instagram, for quite some time. I love his taste in watches and many of the watches he’s posted about in recent years are rare, interesting, original or hard to find. When he posted a sneak peek at his Airin Regatta chronograph powered by a Valjoux 237 earlier this year, I was instantly hooked.

Screaming design

“I’ve had this watch in parts for 10 years. I recently had the movement replaced, so it’s now fully serviced and the watch works perfectly,” was the response I received after I first messaged David. In terms of features, what catches your eye the most is the big, thin “5” printed in black on a pale green background. It’s off-center and too close to the center to be anything more than a funky five-minute countdown timer.

Image: KP-99 (WatchUSeek)

I wish I could attach a time-lapse video of how this little wonder works, but I can’t. I’ll have to make do with the written description. A quick look without giving too much thought to the still images will show that when you run the chronograph, the number 5 on the minute counter remains stationary until the last few seconds when the white central hand first rotates, then jumps to the number 4. In reality, the disc moves every 10 seconds, i.e. 6 times per minute. The photo above shows the position of the disc in the middle of the changing intervals. The central chronograph wheel appears to have 6 driving fingers instead of one slide.

Image: @Super.Compressor

Valjoux Movement

In this conversation about the Valjoux 237, the great Roland Ranfft states that “In the Valjoux datasheet for the 21600A/h line, the 237 is described only with a flyback, 30-minute counter, date and the usual set of features, nothing about the regatta option.” According to a document discovered and published by the German site Uhrforum, internet sources say that only 300 pieces of this movement were made. Unfortunately, the document was not linked and I was unable to verify the information. If anyone can confirm this, I would be very grateful.

Image: @Super.Compressor

I thought the little 10-ligne Valjoux 69 was one of the lowest-produced Valjoux movements. If the above production figures are true, finding a chronograph with the Valjoux 237 would be ten times harder. To complete our introduction to the updated V23, we had the Valjoux V234 with date, the V235 with pure flyback, the V236 with standard chrono, and the V237 with both date and flyback. To conclude the numbers game, we will once again quote the mature judgment of Roland Ranfft: “The 21600A/h Valjoux family members are so rare that we do not need to know the exact quantities.”

Image: @Super.Compressor

Airin vs Airin

As for the crowned Airin brand name, Kathleen Pritchard’s “Swiss Watchmakers, 1775-1975” is disappointing with no results at all. Mikrolisk, another go-to source for vintage watch enthusiasts, links Airin to Dodane, founded in 1934 under the Airain brand and known for military-grade chronographs. While this doesn’t corroborate anything, the fact that this rare Airin regatta chrono has resurfaced in France is somehow reassuring; I mean, if it had come from Romania or Italy, I’d be more suspicious.

Image: @Super.Compressor

Dial

The flat dark blue background features a wide minute track that contrasts with the white background. The red numerals give it a bold, sporty feel. The details I like the most are the simple, 1970s-esque white triangular chronograph seconds hand and the matching thick white ring that surrounds the regatta countdown. I have never actually seen a regatta timer like this, but the numerals printed on the minute disc seem to be the same style across all brands, not just this Airin. The “5” is printed in green, the “4” in white, the “3” in red/orange, the “2” in yellow/lime, and the “1” in purple.

Image: @Super.Compressor

lastly

I was interested in buying this watch, but the asking price of 6,000 euros was way beyond my budget. The older I get, the more patient I am. My friend Henrik (aka @Heuerchrono) has archived all the information about the rare Valjoux 237 regatta chronograph on his yachting watch reference website. You can get the Benytone or Le Phare brand in a C-shaped case, or the Lorenz or Le Phare brand in a bullhead case with a slightly turned dial. This Airin in a standard watch case is my favorite. Good luck!

Thanks to David Renou (aka @Super.Compressor) for providing the rare photo with a white background for our article.