Iconic watch art prints. Made in Switzerland, lifetime guarantee

The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

What a look, this CADOLA! Very original indexes, broad arrow hands, a second hand with a red tip, a very thin bezel, a lovely case shape with beveled lugs, and a magnificent patina.
CADOLA is a brand I'd heard of a few times, but I hadn't really looked into it.
However, when I saw this one for sale, I couldn't resist. I had to have it in my collection. It also gave me the opportunity to deepen my knowledge of this brand. CADOLA divers from the 1960s are very rare, especially in 20 ATM, as it's a brand that mainly made classic watches and chronographs.
Today, the brand still exists and specializes in vintage-look sports watches, even having a partnership with Cosworth.
Coming back to mine, it has a 38 mm case and a very precise ETA 2472 caliber. I wear it very rarely, but always with immense pleasure.

A rare diver

I was looking for a caliber 11 (Heuer-Breitling-Hamilton-Buren) because I have wanted to have one in my collection for years. But I could not decide, because in my wildest desires, I dreamed of a Breitling Chrono-matic 2130. Except that I know that it is almost impossible to find! I have rarely seen one for sale (on the net or at auction), not even one per year. I even read an article on Breitling where it was written that the 2130 was the rarest Breitling of the 70s, if not the rarest of all Breitlings. In addition, I wanted the black dial version, so with the 2 "gold sunray" counters, but in good condition. Except that on the black dial, the "gold" counters are almost all stained (ugly brown spots form). And finally, in my dreams, I bought him a matte black leather strap. Needless to say, I had a better chance of winning the lottery than finding the rare gem. And yet, after years of patience, I came across this 2130 for sale in Germany. I pinch myself: no, it's not a dream. I immediately contact the seller (not buying it was unthinkable for me), but I still negotiated it down by €300 (it doesn't hurt to try)! So it's a Breitling Chrono-matic reference 2130 from 1978. The 2130, unlike the more common 2110 and 2112, has "lyre" shaped lugs, a bit like on the Speedmaster. It may not seem like much, but it changes the entire appearance of the watch and gives it that indefinable charm. Mine is equipped with caliber 11 (19800 vibrations), but most of the 2130s are equipped with caliber 12 (21600 vibrations and more reliable). There is also a 2130 caliber 15, but with a different dial type. 42 hours of power reserve, 38 mm case, crown on the left, hour and minute counters, no small seconds. This is the first self-winding chronograph.....(I'm getting Zenith fans excited).....that is equipped with a micro-rotor. The movement is very reliable, very quiet, and the winding is very smooth. The condition is exceptional, close to new, because the previous owner wore it very little (1st hand), and so did I. It is a very endearing watch, but unfortunately very rare. It also exists with a white dial with black counters and applied indexes, but it is just as rare. There are also color variations (white or orange) on each hand, and the date is either black or white. That makes for a lot of possible combinations. If you are lucky enough to find one, don't be surprised if it is a little different from mine. Personally, I have yet to find the same configuration as mine in all the photos posted by 2130 owners around the world. To conclude: I have found my holy grail (it always makes you believe in Santa Claus), and you can imagine that it is my favorite watch in my entire collection. I will never sell this watch (yet another 2130 on the market!).

You should always believe in Santa Claus

Another small watch from my collection that's worth a look. CODHOR was founded in 1964. It was a cooperative of watchmakers (hence the name) who made products accessible to all, but without neglecting quality. The brand still exists, by the way.
That's what I love about these vintage watches: no pretensions, but robustness, efficiency, good workmanship, and a beautiful design. Nothing extraordinary, but no hassle. When you decide to put it on your wrist, you wind it up, and it will never let you down. No servicing required (unless you're on the lookout for every second for all your appointments). It's these "small" watches that made me fall in love with vintage.

No hassle

This beautiful DREFFA Genève shines brightly. The outer band of the dial is mirror-treated, the indexes are hollowed out of the dial and polished, and the two equally polished hands end up creating a whole that sparkles in the slightest light. The watch isn't exactly discreet on the wrist, but what a look nonetheless! A beautiful movement and a nice case complete this DREFFA that lives up to its name.

Always quality

A very simple ETERNA, with a very pure design, without any frills. This creates a watch that dates back to the late 1960s, but which stands the test of time without really going out of fashion. In addition, its movement is impressively precise. The 36 mm case also doesn't betray its age. A very beautiful watch that seems eternal and lives up to its name.

Classic but desirable

July 1981, I just turned 14. First summer job and also my first paycheck. I had already scouted watch shops in my town a few weeks earlier, and I had already chosen the watch I would buy at the end of the month. And as soon as I got my paycheck, I rushed out and bought this Emile Pequignet Equus.
Why this choice? At 14, this watch looked rather classic, almost like an "old man's watch." But I didn't care about what others thought. I was buying a watch for myself, not for others.
At the time, I was already passionate about watches, and there was one watch I really loved: the Hermes Arceau.
I obviously didn't have the budget to buy one, but it made me dream. And somehow, this Emile Pequignet had a hint of Hermes (at least that's what I tried to make myself believe). And since the watchmaker who sold it to me was an AD of the brand, he explained the history of Pequignet and the quality of the product, which finally persuaded me to buy it. The price was not insignificant for the time.
I only kept it on my wrist for a year, but I wore it every day, even to school. I loved this watch and the very classy look of the dial, the finesse of its case, and its precision. Then I moved on. And seven years later, I bought myself a Hermes Arceau for my 21st birthday. The circle was complete.
Today, when I look at the Pequignet, it reminds me of my youth. It is just as it was then, with very minimal signs of wear and its original leather strap signed Péquignet. Still as beautiful as ever!

Looking back on my youth

Tylex is a historical watch label whose founding year is uncertain during the 60s; Tylex-signed pieces surface from the mid-20th century (1950s&ndash;1970s), with examples marked &ldquo;Swiss Made&rdquo; as well as &ldquo;Made in France,&rdquo; pointing to a period-typical trading-house model (European component sourcing, varied assembly) and distribution mainly through retailers.
<h3>Activity clues (1950s&ndash;1970s) and uncertain geographical roots</h3>
Documented watches range from simple hand-wound &ldquo;ancre 17 rubis&rdquo; pieces to chronographs, plus pointer-date and GMT/worldtime models, placing activity in the second half of the 20th century when many &ldquo;trading&rdquo; brands offered composite catalogues &mdash; the coexistence of Tylex dials stamped &ldquo;Swiss Made&rdquo; and others &ldquo;Made in France&rdquo; suggests split production between Swiss suppliers and French workshops.
Small diameters (&asymp;32&ndash;34&nbsp;mm without crown) typical of the 1950s&ndash;1960s appear, sometimes in 10-micron gold-plated cases with steel backs, sometimes in full steel, usually with domed acrylic crystals; dial patina (two-tone, &ldquo;tropicalisation&rdquo;) and numeral fonts align with the period&rsquo;s codes, and the visual vocabulary matches mainstream &eacute;bauches (FHF, AS, FE, ETA) and multiple case makers.
With no public archive or official communications, the exact founding place, the name of a founder, or corporate structure remain &ldquo;not disclosed&rdquo;; one must rely on surviving pieces and their markings &mdash; a common situation for pre-quartz labels that sold mainly via regional retailers and mail-order catalogues.
<h3>Period visual language: two-tone dials, &ldquo;ancre 17 rubis,&rdquo; and clear legibility</h3>
Observed dials alternate between two-tone layouts (contrasting chapter ring and light centre) and sober finishes with applied markers, paired with baton or syringe hands; inscriptions like &ldquo;Ancre 17 Rubis,&rdquo; &ldquo;Antichoc,&rdquo; &ldquo;Antimagnetic&rdquo; are standard fare in the 1950s&ndash;1960s &mdash; these cues signal solid, everyday watches rather than high complication.
Cases are mostly round and slim, aiming for discreet presence, sometimes with yellow/rose gold plating, sometimes left in steel; legibility is clean, with a peripheral minute track and, on some references, a black rehaut or outline framing the readout &mdash; it&rsquo;s an elegant toolish aesthetic true to mid-century city watches.
On travel-leaning variants one finds rotating worldtime bezels and high-contrast dial colours (black/green or black/yellow) paired with a date window; the result feels sporty and practical, very much of the sixties &mdash; this segment appeals to today&rsquo;s collectors for its &ldquo;tool watch&rdquo; charm without modern bulk.
<h3>Documented models: chronographs, GMT/worldtime and pointer-date</h3>
Secondary-market sightings outline three use families: hand-wound chronographs, travel-oriented GMT/worldtime and &ldquo;civil&rdquo; watches with pointer-date or simple three-hand &ldquo;ancre 17 rubis&rdquo;; the use of known period calibres (Valjoux for chronos, mainstream Swiss bases for the rest) frames Tylex as robust and approachable rather than movement-exclusive &mdash; this is competent mid-century watchmaking, not a vertically integrated manufacture.
<ul>
<li>Tylex Chronograph Valjoux 7733 &mdash; steel/gold-plated case (steel back), telemeter or tachymeter scale, 17 jewels; classic 1950s&ndash;1970s configuration.</li>
<li>Tylex GMT Worldtime &mdash; rotating city bezel, date at 3&nbsp;o&rsquo;clock, contrasted dials (black/green or black/yellow), a very sixties &ldquo;rally/GT&rdquo; vibe.</li>
<li>Tylex Pointer Date &mdash; peripheral pointer date, light dial, slim hands, clear &ldquo;calendar&rdquo; reading.</li>
<li>Tylex Ancre 17 Rubis &mdash; three-hand manual, 32&ndash;34&nbsp;mm formats, steel or plated, frequent &ldquo;Antichoc/Antimagnetic&rdquo; markings.</li>
</ul>
These labels describe typologies rather than known internal references (none are publicly listed); still, they help file Tylex sightings by use and build &mdash; a handy reflex if you plan to compare specimens before buying or commissioning a service.
<h3>Positioning, routes to market and pricing: a trading house with a composite line</h3>
Back then, many labels like Tylex had watches assembled from components sourced from Swiss makers and European case suppliers; they stocked jewellers&rsquo; windows (and sometimes mail-order catalogues) with convincing value &mdash; today&rsquo;s lack of a central voice argues for this &ldquo;trading-house&rdquo; profile rather than an integrated manufacture.
Original retail prices are &ldquo;not disclosed&rdquo;; observed values on today&rsquo;s collector market remain modest for three-handers and pointer-dates, higher for chronographs carrying a prized calibre; as usual, condition (original dial, hands, crown, movement) is paramount &mdash; the right example beats the right price.
Modern-day availability is exclusively secondary (online auctions, specialist dealers, forums, classifieds); to the best of public sources there is no first-hand Tylex structure active &mdash; buyers must judge &ldquo;watch by watch,&rdquo; checking coherence and authenticity.
<h3>Collectors&rsquo; market: relative scarcity, servicing and cautions</h3>
Plain Tylex three-handers (&ldquo;ancre 17 rubis&rdquo;) crop up regularly, sometimes in appealing drawer-fresh condition; pointer-date and GMT/worldtime are scarcer and more sought-after, while chronographs attract fans of the great Swiss &eacute;bauches &mdash; in all cases, original dials and honest patina carry most of the desirability.
Mechanically, the period-mainstream calibres keep maintenance viable at good workshops; favour reversible work (service, cleaning, gaskets, mainspring) and avoid undocumented redials that kill value &mdash; a truthfully patinated dial tends to trump a freshly repainted one with no provenance.
Size, often around 33&nbsp;mm, may surprise wrists accustomed to modern 39&ndash;41&nbsp;mm; on a thin strap (sometimes lightly grained, unpadded), proportions fall back into place &mdash; don&rsquo;t judge ergonomics on the desk: a try-on in natural light tells the truth.
<h3>Practical buying tips: coherence, missing parts and documentation</h3>
Before committing, compare your target piece to several reputable listings to check typeface alignment, hand length, crown shape, and back/dial markings; a &ldquo;Swiss&rdquo; dial paired with a &ldquo;France&rdquo; back isn&rsquo;t unheard of for the era, but it must be plausible for the family &mdash; when in doubt, ask for macro photos and a movement shot.
Favour complete watches: original hands, intact markers, unrefinished dial, clean movement, case back not heavily polished; mild &ldquo;tropical&rdquo; tone or micro-crazing under lacquer is acceptable if overall readability remains &mdash; an honest case beats a freshly replated one.
Log your piece (photos, lot number, seller, purchase date) and, if possible, get a service worksheet at the first overhaul; such records aid resale and upkeep &mdash; they also place your Tylex in history despite the absence of official archives.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
Tylex stands for those mid-century trading-house labels that served everyday needs: sober three-handers, practical pointer-dates, travel-ready GMT/worldtimes and chronographs powered by respected &eacute;bauches. The lack of archives means deciding by typology, visual coherence and condition, accepting variability in markings (Swiss/France). To choose well, start with intended use (city, collection, travel), on-wrist size, and dial originality. To align these cues with lived ownership feedback, a practical compass remains Dialicious customer reviews.
(Updated August 2025)

Unique but rather pretty, this TYLEX from the early 60s has a salmon-colored dial, unusual at the time, but which has recently come back into fashion. The typography of the raised numbers is also nice. Its very classic shaped case bears the marks of time gone by (I wore it a lot at one time). And its movement is terribly precise. I also have a TYLEX chronograph of equal quality. For me, it is an unusual vintage brand that is just waiting to be known.

Salmon suits him so well.

Atelier Jalaper est une marque horlog&egrave;re franco-belge fond&eacute;e en 2019 par Louis Jalaber et Simon Szleper. Elle se distingue par une approche unique qui fusionne l'horlogerie traditionnelle avec l'h&eacute;ritage automobile en int&eacute;grant des &eacute;l&eacute;ments authentiques de voitures l&eacute;gendaires dans ses montres.
<h3>Origines et Fondation</h3>
Louis Jalaber et Simon Szleper se sont rencontr&eacute;s lors de leurs &eacute;tudes &agrave; l'ESCP Europe, partageant une passion commune pour l'horlogerie et l'automobile. Leur ambition &eacute;tait de cr&eacute;er une montre qui ne se contenterait pas de s'inspirer du design automobile, mais qui int&eacute;grerait v&eacute;ritablement une partie de l'histoire automobile. Cette vision les a conduits &agrave; fonder Atelier Jalaper en 2019.
<h3>Concept et Philosophie</h3>
La philosophie d'Atelier Jalaper repose sur l'id&eacute;e de donner une nouvelle vie &agrave; des voitures embl&eacute;matiques en les int&eacute;grant dans des montres de haute qualit&eacute;. Chaque garde-temps est con&ccedil;u avec des cadrans fabriqu&eacute;s &agrave; partir de pi&egrave;ces authentiques de voitures l&eacute;gendaires, offrant ainsi aux passionn&eacute;s une connexion tangible avec l'histoire automobile.
<h3>Collections et Mod&egrave;les</h3>
Collection DB5
La premi&egrave;re collection d'Atelier Jalaper rend hommage &agrave; l'Aston Martin DB5, une ic&ocirc;ne des ann&eacute;es 1960. Les cadrans de ces montres sont d&eacute;coup&eacute;s dans le capot en aluminium d'une v&eacute;ritable DB5, conf&eacute;rant &agrave; chaque pi&egrave;ce une patine unique. La collection comprend quatre mod&egrave;les :
<ul>
<li>AJ001-S : Mod&egrave;le avec affichage de la date, bo&icirc;tier en acier inoxydable</li>
<li>AJ001-B : Version avec bo&icirc;tier en PVD noir</li>
<li>AJ002-S : Mod&egrave;le avec affichage du jour et de la date, bo&icirc;tier en acier inoxydable</li>
<li>AJ002-B : Version avec bo&icirc;tier en PVD noir</li>
</ul>
Ces montres sont &eacute;quip&eacute;es de mouvements automatiques Miyota, offrant une r&eacute;serve de marche de 42 heures.
Collection Miura
La deuxi&egrave;me collection s'inspire de la Lamborghini Miura, souvent consid&eacute;r&eacute;e comme la premi&egrave;re supercar au monde. Les cadrans sont fabriqu&eacute;s &agrave; partir de pi&egrave;ces authentiques de la Miura, et la collection propose plusieurs variantes :
<ul>
<li>AJ-P400-V : Version avec r&eacute;haut vert</li>
<li>AJ-P400-N : Version avec r&eacute;haut noir</li>
<li>AJ-P400-O : Version avec r&eacute;haut orange</li>
<li>AJ-P400-B : Version avec r&eacute;haut bleu</li>
</ul>
Ces mod&egrave;les sont anim&eacute;s par des mouvements &agrave; remontage manuel Sellita SW270-1 M, offrant une r&eacute;serve de marche d'environ 45 heures.
Collection Jaguar Type E
La troisi&egrave;me collection s'inspire de la Jaguar Type E, l'une des autos les plus reconnaissables entre toutes. Les cadrans sont fabriqu&eacute;s &agrave; partir de pi&egrave;ces authentiques d'une Jaguar Type E semi-lightweight de 1962, et la collection propose deux variantes :
<ul>
<li>AJ-003-B : Version au cadran stri&eacute;</li>
<li>AJ-003-W : Version au cadran noir anodis&eacute;</li>
</ul>
Ces mod&egrave;les sont anim&eacute;s par des mouvements &agrave; remontage automatique Sellita SW300-1, offrant une r&eacute;serve de marche d'environ 42 heures.
<h3>Processus de Fabrication et Savoir-Faire</h3>
Atelier Jalaper collabore avec des artisans et des experts horlogers bas&eacute;s &agrave; La Chaux-de-Fonds, en Suisse, pour assurer une qualit&eacute; exceptionnelle. Le processus de fabrication implique une d&eacute;coupe pr&eacute;cise des pi&egrave;ces automobiles pour cr&eacute;er des cadrans uniques, suivie d'un assemblage minutieux pour garantir la fiabilit&eacute; et l'esth&eacute;tique de chaque montre.
<h3>Engagement envers l'Authenticit&eacute; et l'Innovation</h3>
La marque s'engage &agrave; pr&eacute;server l'authenticit&eacute; des mat&eacute;riaux utilis&eacute;s tout en innovant dans le design et la fonctionnalit&eacute;. Chaque montre est num&eacute;rot&eacute;e et porte en elle l'&acirc;me de la voiture dont elle est issue, offrant aux collectionneurs et aux passionn&eacute;s une pi&egrave;ce de l'histoire automobile &agrave; leur poignet.
<h3>R&eacute;ception et Perspectives d'Avenir</h3>
Depuis son lancement, Atelier Jalaper a re&ccedil;u des retours positifs pour son concept novateur et la qualit&eacute; de ses montres. La marque continue d'explorer de nouvelles collaborations avec des voitures l&eacute;gendaires, &eacute;largissant ainsi sa collection et renfor&ccedil;ant sa position unique &agrave; l'intersection de l'horlogerie et de l'automobile.
En conclusion, Atelier Jalaper se distingue par sa capacit&eacute; &agrave; fusionner l'art horloger avec l'h&eacute;ritage automobile, cr&eacute;ant des montres qui racontent une histoire unique et offrent une exp&eacute;rience &eacute;motionnelle aux passionn&eacute;s des deux univers.
Inspirez-vous des avis clients Dialicious pour choisir la montre Atelier Jalaper qui vous convient le mieux. D&eacute;couvrez &eacute;galement le <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_de_sports_mecaniques">classement des marques de montres inspir&eacute;es du sport automobile</a>.
(Mise &agrave; jour Mars 2025)

Atelier Jalaper is a Franco-Belgian watch brand founded in 2019 by Louis Jalaber and Simon Szleper. It is distinguished by a unique approach that merges traditional watchmaking with automotive heritage by integrating authentic elements of legendary cars into its watches.
<h3 dir="ltr">Origins and Foundation</h3>
Louis Jalaber and Simon Szleper met during their studies at ESCP Europe, sharing a common passion for watchmaking and automobiles. Their ambition was to create a watch that would not only be inspired by automotive design, but would truly incorporate a part of automotive history. This vision led them to found Atelier Jalaper in 2019.
<h3 dir="ltr">Concept and Philosophy</h3>
Atelier Jalaper's philosophy is based on the idea of ​​giving new life to iconic cars by integrating them into high-quality watches. Each timepiece is designed with dials made from authentic parts from legendary cars, providing enthusiasts with a tangible connection to automotive history.
<h3 dir="ltr">Collections and Models</h3>
Collection DB5
Atelier Jalaper's first collection pays homage to the Aston Martin DB5, an icon of the 1960s. The dials of these watches are cut from the aluminum cover of a real DB5, giving each piece a unique patina. The collection includes four models:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ001-S: Model with date display, stainless steel case
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ001-B:&nbsp;Version with black PVD case
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ002-S: Model with day and date display, stainless steel case
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ002-B: Version with black PVD case
</li>
</ul>
These watches are equipped with Miyota automatic movements, offering a power reserve of 42 hours.
Collection Miura
The second collection is inspired by the Lamborghini Miura, often considered the world's first supercar. The dials are made from authentic Miura parts, and the collection offers several variations:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-P400-V: Version with green flange
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-P400-N: Version with black flange
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-P400-O: Version with orange flange
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-P400-B: Version with blue flange
</li>
</ul>
These models are powered by Sellita SW270-1 M hand-wound movements, offering a power reserve of approximately 45 hours.
Jaguar E-Type Collection
The third collection is inspired by the Jaguar E-Type, one of the most recognizable cars of all. The dials are made from genuine parts from a 1962&nbsp;Jaguar E-Type semi-lightweight, and the collection offers two variants:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-003-B: Version with vertically brushed dial
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-003-W: Version with black anodized dial
</li>
</ul>
These models are driven by Sellita SW300-1 self-winding movements, offering a power reserve of approximately 42 hours.
<h3 dir="ltr">Manufacturing Process and Know-How</h3>
Atelier Jalaper collaborates with artisans and watchmaking experts based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, to ensure exceptional quality. The manufacturing process involves precise cutting of automotive parts to create unique dials, followed by careful assembly to ensure the reliability and aesthetics of each watch.
<h3 dir="ltr">Commitment to Authenticity and Innovation</h3>
The brand is committed to preserving the authenticity of the materials used while innovating in design and functionality. Each watch is numbered and carries within it the soul of the car from which it comes, offering collectors and enthusiasts a piece of automotive history on their wrist.
<h3 dir="ltr">Reception and Future Prospects</h3>
Since its launch, Atelier Jalaper has received positive feedback for its innovative concept and the quality of its watches. The brand continues to explore new collaborations with legendary cars, expanding its collection and strengthening its unique position at the intersection of watchmaking and automobiles.&nbsp;In conclusion, Atelier Jalaper stands out for its ability to merge the art of watchmaking with automotive heritage, creating watches that tell a unique story and offer an emotional experience to enthusiasts of both worlds.
Take inspiration from Dialicious customer reviews to choose the Atelier Jalaper watch that suits you best. Also discover the <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_brands_of_motor_sports_watches">ranking of watch brands inspired by motorsport</a>.
(Updated March 2025)

Tylex Owner Review : Reliable, chic and singular

Salmon suits him so well.

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Salmon suits him so well.

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