The Valjoux 72c VZHC (“Valjoux Zähler Heure Calendrier”) is a “triple date” hand-winding chronograph movement in the Valjoux 72 family. Cal. 72C was introduced around 1946 and produced through 1974. Cal. Valjoux 723 is similar. Cal. Valjoux 88 adds a moon phase disc at 6:00. Cal. 72C was replaced by Cal. Valjoux 730 in the 1970s.
It is said that about 1,300 examples of Cal, 72c were produced, far fewer than the similar full-calendar Cal. 88.
The Valjoux 23C and 72c are almost identical except that the latter adds a 12 hour counter at 6:00 on the dial. This function is powered by a gear on the dial side of the movement which tends to wear over time.
Some sources claim that Cal. 72c measures 6.95 mm thick, the same as Cal. 72 VZH, while others claim 7.25 mm. The latter is more likely, as this movement adds a calendar complication to the base.
Valjoux Triple Calendar Functions
This is a “triple calendar” movement, with day and month shown via disc through dial windows and the date indicated by a central hand.
- Day of week wheel with window at 11:30, advanced using an inset pusher at 10:00 with a deeper press
- Month wheel with window at 12:30, advanced using an inset pusher at 10:00
- Central date hand, advanced using an inset pusher at 8:30
Valjoux does not recommend operating the day, month, or date adjusters between the hours of 20:00 and 2:00. This is to protect the calendar mechanism, which advances at midnight.
Note that the month does not automatically “roll over” with the date. It must be manually set using the inset pusher.
While all Valjoux 72c movements feature inset pushers at 8:30 and 10:00 to advance the calendar functions, only later versions can advance the day using a half-push of the pusher at 10. Cal. 72c also came with either flat or Breguet hairsprings with different regulators.
- Central hours and minute hands
- Central chronograph seconds
- Central date by pointer
- 30 minute counter at 3:00
- 12 hour counter at 6:00
- Date corrector at 8:30
- Running small seconds at 9:00
- Day and Month corrector at 10:00
- Day window at 11:30
- Month window at 12:30
Valjoux 72c Applications
The Valjoux 72c was used by many brands, notably including Anonimo, Baume & Mercier, Bovet, 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 23/72 Family Movements
The Valjoux Cal. 23/72 family was primarily made up of eight movements, with all others being variations on these. Many components are shared between most or all of these movements, with the main variations happening together over the long production of the series.
- Cal. 23 VZ – Basic movement with no hour counter
- Cal. 72 VZH – Basic movement with hour counter
- Cal. 72c VZHC – Cal. 72 with triple calendar
- Cal. 88 VZHCL – Cal. 72c with moon phase
- Cal. 78 VZSC – Non-chronograph triple calendar
- Cal. 90 VZSCL – Cal. 78 with moon phase
- Cal. 69 DX – Compact 10.5 ligne chronograph
- Cal. 89 DXC – Compact 10.5 ligne triple calendar
| Complications | 18,000 A/h No Chrono | 18,000 A/h No Hours | 18,000 A/h Hour Counter | 21,600 A/h No Hours | 21,600 A/h Hour Counter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 23 VZ 69 DX | 72 VZH 722 | 236 | 726 727 | |
| Flyback | 230 | 720 | 235 | 725 | |
| Date | 232 | 234 | |||
| Triple Date | 78 VZSC | 23C | 72c VZHC 723 | 730 | |
| Flyback and Date | 237 | ||||
| 24 Hour Hand | 724 | 729 | |||
| Calendar and Moon Phase | 89 DXC 90 VZSCL | 88 VZHCL | 886 | ||
| Tide Calculator | 721 |