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Brand: | Valjoux | 
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|---|---|---|---|
| Family: | |||
| Height: | 6.95 mm | ||
| Jewels: | 17 | ||
| Reserve: | 48 hours | ||
| Frequency: | 18000 A/h | ||
| Winding: | Hand winding | ||
| Diameter: | 29.5 mm (13 ligne) | ||
| Complications: | 2-Button, 9-Column Chronograph, Chronograph, Column Wheel Chronograph | ||
| Hands: | 12 Hour Chronograph Hand at 6:00, 30 Minute Chronograph Hand at 3:00, Central 60 Second Chronograph Hand, Central Hour Hand, Central Minute Hand, Small Seconds Hand at 9:00 | ||
| Distinguishing Technical Characteristics | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hand-Winding  Clockwise Balance Cock  Indexed Regulator  9-Column Chronograph |
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| Production: 1938 – 1974 | |||||||||||
| 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
The Valjoux 72 VZH (“Valjoux Counter Heures”) is a celebrated hand-winding chronograph movement produced from 1938 through 1974. Implementing Willy Breitling’s dual-pusher design with a column wheel, it remains desirable to this day. The design of the chronograph works, visible at the back, are particularly appealing. Note that some place the date of introduction for Cal. 72 as 1946.
The Valjoux 23 and 72 are almost identical except that the latter adds a 12 hour counter at 6:00 on the dial.
- Central hours and minute hands and chronograph seconds
- 30 minute counter at 3:00
- 12 hour counter at 6:00
- Running small seconds at 9:00
The Valjoux 72 was used by many manufacturers. One notable example is the Rolex Cal. 72 A or 72 B (Valjoux 722), which was a modification of the Valjoux 72 made to Rolex specifications. Changes include the use of a Microstella regulator and Rolex finishing, including the initials ROW for “Rolex Werke”. An updated 722-1 in the late 1960s had an updated spring on the hour wheel.
Other brands using this movement include Anonimo, Baume & Mercier, Breguet, Breitling, Certina, Doxa, Eberhard & Co., Enicar, Eterna, Franck Muller, Gallet, Girard-Perregaux, Heuer, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Longines, Minerva, Nivada, Ulysse Nardin, Universal Genève, Wakmann, Wittnauer, and Zodiac.
Valjoux 72 Family Movements
| 18,000 A/h No Chronograph | 18,000 A/h No Hour Counter | 18,000 A/h Hour Counter | 21,600 A/h No Hour Counter | 21,600 A/h Hour Counter | |
| Base | Valjoux 23 | Valjoux 72 Valjoux 722 | Valjoux 236 | Valjoux 726 Valjoux 727 | |
| Flyback | Valjoux 230 | Valjoux 720 | Valjoux 235 | Valjoux 725 | |
| Date | Valjoux 234 | ||||
| Triple Date | Valjoux 69 Valjoux 78 | Valjoux 23C | Valjoux 723 Valjoux 72C | Valjoux 730 | |
| Flyback and Date | Valjoux 237 | ||||
| 24 Hour Hand | Valjoux 724 | Valjoux 729 | |||
| Calendar and Moon Phase | Valjoux 89 Valjoux 90 | Valjoux 88 | Valjoux 886 | ||
| Tide Calculator | Valjoux 721 |
