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Venus Big Date Movement Trio: The 211, 216 and 221

A Bucherer flyback chronograph, a Fortis with subsidiary seconds and a Cornavin Datocor show three distinctive takes on Venus Big Date movements 211, 216 and 221.
Estimate3–4 min Catalogued SpecialistWatchRanker Team
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The Venus Big Date movement trio—calibers 211, 216 and 221—pairs an unusually broad date display with three very different watch designs: a Bucherer flyback chronograph, a Fortis with subsidiary seconds, and a Cornavin Geneve Datocor with three hands. Their date windows sit in different places, too: above six on the featured 211 and at twelve on the featured 216 and 221. These are the examples described by Fratello contributor Tomas Rosputinsky, not a complete catalog of every watch made with these calibers.

What is the Venus Big Date movement trio?

In his January 16, 2020 Fratello feature, Tomas Rosputinsky introduced three late-1950s Venus calibers—211, 216 and 221—through individual vintage watches. The article’s appeal is the contrast: the movements share a prominent date display, while the watches built around them differ in function, layout and case design.

The date aperture is described as roughly twice the width of a typical date window. That broad opening makes the date a conspicuous design feature rather than a small detail. Rosputinsky captured the movement’s unexpected character with the line, “Under the hood, an under-the-radar classic is beating away.”

How the three featured watches compare

Caliber and watch Featured function Date position Case detail reported
Venus 211, Bucherer Chronograph with flyback mechanism Above six Not stated by Rosputinsky
Venus 216, Fortis Seconds subdial At twelve 37 mm; the author considered the size well suited to the movement
Venus 221, Cornavin Geneve Datocor Three-hand watch At twelve 32 mm example; the author dates the model’s introduction to around 1955

These details describe the specific watches in Rosputinsky’s feature. They should not be read as a universal specification sheet for every watch using one of the calibers; the article does not establish a complete catalog of models or caliber specifications.

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What makes the date display distinctive?

Across the three examples, the date opening is unusually prominent. The 211 Bucherer places it above six, while the 216 Fortis and 221 Datocor put it at twelve. The location changes the balance of each dial: the chronograph’s display occupies the lower area, and the other two watches give the date the top position.

The Datocor pictured in the feature has a date-setting pin at two o’clock. Rosputinsky reports using a sturdy toothpick or equivalent to engage that watch’s jump mechanism. He also notes that its displayed date may need manual adjustment around the transition between months. This is an account of the pictured Datocor, not a setting instruction for every Venus Big Date watch.

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What collectors should look for in a Datocor

Rosputinsky’s comments offer a collector’s impressions, not a formal authentication checklist. He says black-dial examples were difficult to find among the watches he had encountered, and that many Datocors he saw were gold plated and showed wear. He also cautions about aftermarket crowns; the crown on his pictured watch bears a large “C,” which he identifies as original.

Those observations can help frame questions when examining an individual watch, but they do not establish that every black dial is rare, every gold-plated case is worn, or a crown alone proves originality. Condition and originality need to be judged on the specific watch.

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What the 2020 price note does—and does not—tell you

Rosputinsky mentioned roughly €300–€600 for a pristine Datocor in his 2020 feature. This is his anecdotal asking-price observation at that time, not a current valuation, a verified sale price or a market-wide statistic. The feature provides no current listings or production totals, so it cannot establish present-day availability or value.

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Why the trio remains interesting

The three watches show how a wide date display can anchor very different designs: a flyback chronograph, a watch with subsidiary seconds, and a straightforward three-hand Datocor. The contrast in date placement and case proportions is part of the attraction, while the collector’s account of worn examples, hard-to-find dials and potentially replaced crowns underscores that each surviving watch needs individual scrutiny.

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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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