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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The Jardur Bezelmeter is an unusual aviation chronograph built around two specialized scales: a rotating bezel for referencing elapsed flight time and a red dial scale intended to help pilots calculate turns. The model’s history reaches back before the 1950s, and surviving examples differ in date, movement, dimensions and dial details. A watch described as a “1950s Jardur” is one part of that story—not a universal specification.
Jardur’s aviation-watch story began before the 1950s
Phillips dates the Jardur Import Company’s establishment in New York to 1937, describing a business associated with aviation instruments such as flight calculators, navigation plotters and protractors, as well as Swiss-imported Bezelmeter chronographs. A specialist history, Heuerworld, reports Library of Congress copyright registrations for a “Jardur 8 feature aviators chronograph” in November 1939 and “Jardur Bezelmeter aviation chronographs” in November 1940. Those dates place the design’s documented history before the decade often attached to individual surviving watches.
Published auction and specialist records show several configurations rather than one fixed model. Phillips catalogues a circa-1940s example; Christie’s describes a circa-1945 Bezelmeter 960; Heuerworld places the second-series 995 in the late 1940s; and a dealer listing identifies its own example as a 1950s watch. These are catalogue or seller attributions, not a complete production chronology.
How the Bezelmeter’s aviation scales were intended to work
Rotating hour bezel for flight-time reference
Phillips describes an independent chapter ring on the bezel, graduated in counterclockwise hours. Its catalogue explanation says a pilot could align the intended duration hour with the hour hand at takeoff, then use the bezel as a quick reference to remaining flight time. This is a reference aid, not a substitute for flight planning or navigation equipment.
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Red degreemeter and chronograph for turns
The red degreemeter on the dial was intended to work with the chronograph for turn calculations. Christie’s description of its Bezelmeter 960 explains that starting the chronograph as an aircraft begins banking lets the wearer track the turn’s ongoing amplitude. That is the catalogue’s account of the scale’s intended use; it does not establish modern cockpit approval or certification.
Christie’s Bezelmeter 960 listing describes a bidirectional 12-hour bezel, military-time numerals, a red 0-to-180-degree scale, a tachymeter and three registers for constant seconds, 30 minutes and 12 hours. Do not assume every Jardur configuration carried this exact combination.
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Published examples show why the reference matters
| Published example | Date attribution | Movement and case | Documented details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phillips Bezelmeter | Circa 1940s | Manual Valjoux 71, 17 jewels; 38.5 mm | Phillips says the case, dial and movement are signed. Phillips catalogue. |
| Christie’s Bezelmeter 960, case 49’460 | Circa 1945 | Mechanical movement stamped IXK, 17 jewels; 37 mm | Listing describes a bidirectional 12-hour bezel, degree and tachymeter scales, and three registers. Christie’s catalogue. |
| Heuerworld Bezelmeter 995 | Late-1940s second series | Valjoux 72, signed Pilgrim Electric Corp.; slimmer case | Heuerworld notes bevelled lugs and different dial options. Heuerworld model history. |
| Private Eyes archived listing | 1950s, per dealer | Manual Valjoux 72; stainless steel, 37 mm; 20 mm lug width | Dealer identifies the fitted strap as non-original. It reports about 40 seconds per day for that watch only. Private Eyes / Watchnet archived listing. |
The 17-jewel Valjoux 71 and Valjoux 72 examples, along with the Christie’s IXK-stamped movement, make clear that “Jardur chronograph” alone does not identify a single calibre. Likewise, published case diameters range from 37 mm to 38.5 mm. Verify any particular watch against its own reference, movement and case evidence.
What to check when researching or buying one
Auction catalogues are useful documentation for individual examples, but a catalogue description is not a guarantee of originality or a full production record. Compare the specific watch rather than relying on a model name alone:
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- Identity and date: Record the reference, case number and the source of any date attribution. “Circa” and dealer-assigned decades are estimates, not necessarily verified production dates.
- Movement: Confirm the calibre and its signature from the watch itself, and compare that evidence with any catalogue description.
- Case and bezel: Check diameter, metal, caseback, bezel direction and graduations. Published examples vary in size and configuration.
- Dial and registers: Document the scale markings, register layout, hands and signatures; do not infer that one example’s scales are standard across the line.
- Originality and condition: Ask what is known about the dial, hands, movement and strap, and look for service documentation. The dealer listing explicitly calls its fitted strap non-original, illustrating why accessories should be assessed separately.
Phillips records a historical estimate of HK$40,000–80,000 and a realized price of HK$44,450 for a lot of two circa-1940s Jardur watches. That result belongs to those two watches and their specific condition and configuration; it is not a current price guide for a single 1950s example. The available catalogued examples do not establish a reliable current valuation across Jardur watches.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Straps and care for a vintage chronograph
The 1950s dealer-listed watch has a stated 20 mm lug width, but that measurement applies to that example, not every Jardur. Measure the individual watch before ordering a replacement strap. Changing a period strap may also affect originality.
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For a vintage manual chronograph, a watchmaker familiar with older chronographs can assess its condition. Catalogue text or a seller’s timing note cannot establish the condition of another watch, diagnose a fault or provide a general service interval.
Quick Recap
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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