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You are here: Home / Movements / Venus 170

Venus 170

Last Update: June 23, 2019

Brand:Vénus
Family:
Unknown
Height:6.00 mm
Jewels:17
Reserve:40 hours
Frequency:18,000 A/h
Winding:Hand winding
Diameter:28.00 mm (12.5 ligne)
  Complications:2-Button, 8-Column Chronograph, Chronograph, Column Wheel Chronograph, Oscillating Pinion Chronograph
Hands:30 Minute Chronograph Hand at 12:00, 45 Minute Chronograph Hand at 12:00, Central 60 Second Chronograph Hand, Central Hour Hand, Central Minute Hand, Small Seconds Hand at 6:00
Distinguishing Technical Characteristics
Hand-Winding
Clockwise Balance Cock
8-Column Chronograph
Production: 1936 – 1951
1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
Léonidas was an early adopter of Cal. 170 as seen in this 1940 ad

Venus Cal. 170 is a hand-winding column wheel chronograph movement with distinctive 6-12 subdial arrangement. The 12:00 register includes a 30 or 45 minute chronograph counter. It is the only Vénus movement with eight columns rather than seven, and the only column wheel Vénus movement to use an oscillating pinion rather than a traditional horizontal clutch.

This 1939 ad shows that Cal. 170 was immediately in demand

Cal. 170 is first documented in 1936 and was in production by the following year. It remained in production until 1951, by which time it was replaced by the Cal. 188 family of cam-switching chronograph movements.

Cal. 170 was a revolutionary movement, given its small diameter and modern dual-pusher design, and set the stage for the Cal. 150 and Cal. 175 families, though it was completely different in design. It was much less expensive than competing movements from Valjoux, and was nearly as cheap as Landeron’s Cal. 47, the first full-feature cam-switching chronograph. All of these aspects made it quite successful throughout the 1940s, though the unusual 6-12 layout was not as popular in later decades.

Vénus utilized the Heuer-style oscillating pinion design to engage and disengage the chronograph timer in Cal. 170. The movement was also unusual in locating the winding click on the dial side and using a rocker bar to select the crown function. Although often noted as measuring 28.2 mm in diameter, the official Venus technical documentation lists it at 28.00 mm by 6.00 mm.

Cal. 170 was notably used by Heuer (Ref. 3249) and Breitling in their cheaper “popular” lines. But was also used by many other brands, including Büren, Elbon, Eloga, Gallet, Helbros, Leonidas, Olma, Silvana, Telda, Wittnauer, and Wyler/Siduna.

This 1943 article from Relojos (Europa Star) presents the novel 12.5 ligne dual-pusher Vénus chronograph movement, Cal. 170

More detail on the history of Vénus is available in the Grail Watch article, “The Rise of Vénus, Legendary Chronograph Maker“

Images are taken from official publications and are used here for commentary and educational purposes. Copyright is held by the original owner as noted.

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