Key Features
Money-talking DOLLAR digi-mech, very far from the sort of watch that you’re used to seeing! It comes from 70’s ‘electronic/digital’ era, when classical mechanical brands were competing with electronic watches and developing these kind of mechanical timepieces with digital display complications.
Fun fact – 99% of those advanced electronic digital watches are now dead and non-repairable, due to the degradation of the integrated electronic components. However, the horological digi-mech creations are still alive and running, and with regular servicing will continue to be and to do so for 100+ years.
This unusual case design is called ‘De Baschmakoff‘, designed by Francois de Baschmakoff, the French artist, known for his collaborations with the LIP watchmaking company. The case design is a long, sleek rectangular shape with crescent hour and minute windows positioned to the left of the dial. Recently LIP reissued this model with a quartz movement, but this particular piece still has its real old mechanics, in great condition after all these years.
The DOLLAR name on the centre-right of the dial makes this timepiece a great gift for any financial/banking professional.
Although the strap is quite wide, and the case size at only 34.5 mm, this design of the large strap and small sleek case was the intention of its creator, to achieve a timepiece totally different from anything made before.
About De Baschmakoff
In 1968, artist Prince François De Baschmakoff started a collaboration with Fred Lip of the LIP watch company. François De Baschmakoff was great colourist, known for his drawings in some fashion magazines, as well as for his collaboration on the creation of new Lip models.
De Baschmakoff was the first designer to work for LIP, and thus set the tone for future LIP creations, bringing in his wake all the designers who would work for LIP from then on. The first thing De Baschmakoff did was to get rid of the traditional watchmaking customs, and start designing something new. He got rid of all the classical watchmaking shapes and instead created a contemporary and pioneering new watch creation through removing the hands of the watch. His new creation had discs for digital reading; a genuine innovation for that period. The large strap is a part of the interesting design, and allows the timepiece to hold the watch comfortably on the wrist. Thus, the first French mechanical watch with a digital display – the De Baschmakoff – was born.
Servicing and Guarantee
This timepiece has been serviced with full disassembly in our Bristol workshop. There is a 12-month guarantee, subject to the usage and care guidelines. The watch comes with a high-quality black, textured genuine leather strap.
Overview
Case and Strap
- Original, long rectangular case.
- Gold-plated brass.
- Specially shaped, acrylic glass.
- Screw stainless steel caseback.
- Crown with pull-out function.
Dimensions:
- Width w/o crown 34.5 mm.
- Width w/crown 37 mm.
- Height 33.5 mm.
- Thickness 12 mm.
- Strap width 28 mm.
Dial and Hands
- Original cream-tone dial.
- Crescent overlapping digital display minute and jumping hour.
- ‘Dollar’ signature.
- Thin black stripe horizontally through centre.
Movement
- French-made movement.
- Lorsa 238ADI calibre with digital instant jump hours module add-on.
- 17 jewels.
- Manual winding.
- Simple finishing of plates and bridges.
- Mirror polished wheels.
- Polished screws.
Testing Results
- Testing duration: 2 weeks cyclic test.
- Average timekeeping range: 15-40 sec/day.
Servicing and Guarantee
- Fully serviced with disassembly in our Bristol shop.
- Mechanics in full working order – has passed preventative maintenance and testing.
- 28 mm, wide black genuine textured leather strap.
- Guarantee Terms and Conditions.
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