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You are here: Home / Movements / Venus 179

Venus 179

Last Update: June 23, 2019

Brand:Vénus
Family:
Venus 175 Family
Height:7.1 mm
Jewels:26
Reserve:49 hours
Frequency:18,000 A/h
Winding:Hand winding
Diameter:31.6 mm
  Complications:2-Button, 7-Column Chronograph, Chronograph, Column Wheel Chronograph, Split Seconds Chronograph
Hands:30 Minute Chronograph Hand at 3:00, Central Hour Hand, Central Minute Hand, Central Split Second Chronograph Hand, Small Seconds Hand at 9:00
Distinguishing Technical Characteristics
Hand-Winding
Clockwise Balance Cock
7-Column Chronograph
Balance
Balance at 1:30
Column Wheel
Column Wheel at 4:30
Production: 1944 – 1960
1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s

Venus Cal. 179 is part of the Venus 175 family of movements. It is a hand-winding column wheel chronograph movement. Similar to the base Venus 175/176, it adds a split-second function. The dial features a 3-9 subdial arrangement.

This 1943 Breitling Duograph ad shows the first wristwatch rattrapante

Cal. 179 was introduced around 1944 and substantially modified in 1949. It was retired around 1960, with some sources claiming 1962 specifically. Some sources place the introduction of this movement at 1940 or 1941, but it appears that production was delayed for a few years.

Breitling was the main beneficiary of the rattrapante Venus 179 movement, introducing their Duograph at the Basel Fair in 1944. It was an uncommon and desirable watch, and gave the brand a unique sales proposition alongside the rest of the Vénus movements powering the company’s chronographs at this time.

Applications

Cal. 179 was recently used by Panerai in their Radiomir Chrono Split Seconds, PAM00047.

Paul Picot used Cal. 179 as the basis for their Grande Complication in the 1990s. They used original components on a modern base and added a Glucydur balance, Breguet hairspring, and goose-neck regulator, along with a power reserve function, the first automatic split-seconds chronograph movement to feature this complication. The result was Cal. PP310, made in limited quantities starting in 1993.

Venus 175 Family

ComplicationsStandardSplit Seconds
BaseVenus 175
Venus 176
Venus 179
Hour CounterVenus 178Venus 185
Date, Hour CounterVenus 183Venus 189
Date, Moon Phase, Hour CounterVenus 184Venus 190
CalendarVenus 194
Calendar, Moon PhaseVenus 198Venus 205
Calendar, Hour CounterVenus 192Venus 193

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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