Leonidas chronograph, black gilt dial

Leonidas traces back to 1841 in Saint-Imier, and by the twentieth century had become one of the handful of Swiss houses, alongside Lemania, Valjoux and Landeron, whose movements supplied the wider chronograph industry. The brand built a genuine reputation in timing instruments before merging with Heuer in 1964, and pieces from before that merger, still signed simply Leonidas, are the ones collectors look for today. This 35mm steel chronograph carries a black gilt dial, with two registers and gold printed numerals and scales that catch the light against the dark background, a combination that gives these dials real depth compared to a flat printed finish. The gold hands and Arabic numerals stay legible and crisp, with none of the fading that so often creeps in on dials of this type. Condition is excellent throughout, case and dial both holding up remarkably well for a watch of this age. A handsome, honest chronograph from a maker whose real expertise rarely gets the credit it deserves.