A highly collectible vintage ASTROLUX chronograph from the 1950s. ASTROLUX was a respected Swiss watch brand that collaborated with leading watch manufacturers of its era. Reference: 617002 Movement: Valjoux 92 This legendary chronograph movement features a column wheel construction based on Edouard Heuer's 1886 patent, along with a dial-side operating lever and rocker-type winding mechanism. The Valjoux 92 is widely regarded as one of the most desirable and sought-after vintage chronograph calibres among collectors. Production Period: 1950s Case Size: 37.5 mm (without crown) / 46.5 mm lug-to-lug - An oversized "Jumbo" model, exceptionally large for its period. The case is made of solid 18K gold (750). Its large dimensions give the watch a strong wrist presence and make it impossible to overlook. The dial is 100% original and features a beautiful guilloché pattern with applied raised hour markers. The hands and markers may also be gold, although this has not been formally tested; their colour certainly suggests this possibility. the natural patina developed over the decades gives the watch a unique character and appearance that cannot be replicated. Please note that the photographs were taken in macro mode, which may emphasize details that are less visible to the naked eye. All of our watches are regularly inspected by a professional watchmaker to ensure proper operation, timekeeping accuracy, and overall suitability for everyday use. Any necessary maintenance is performed to keep the watch ready to wear. For this particular watch, we do not possess documentation confirming a complete overhaul (full disassembly, cleaning, lubrication, and reassembly of the movement), and therefore cannot verify whether such a service has ever been performed. Important Note Regarding the Chronograph After some time, we noticed that the chronograph function occasionally stops without any obvious reason. There is no specific pattern or consistency to this behaviour. Based on our many years of experience with vintage watches, we decided not to investigate the issue further, as there is no guarantee that the exact cause could be identified without extensive and potentially unnecessary intervention. Importantly, this does not affect the watch's normal timekeeping or everyday wearability. Considering its age, such behaviour is not unusual for a vintage chronograph of this era. For this reason, we have reduced the price to an absolute minimum, essentially reflecting only the intrinsic gold value of the case plus the lowest market value we could find for a watch equipped with a Valjoux 92 movement. The watch comes fitted with a complimentary new, good-quality leather strap. The watch is offered at the lowest price we are prepared to accept. We believe this represents exceptional value considering the rarity, precious metal case, and highly collectible movement.