172 - Desoto Bicompax Chronograph, late 1950s

Desoto Bicompax Chronograph, late 1950s Silver-plated dial with gold baton-style hands, gold faceted straight hour markers, and Arabic numerals at the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock positions. Small seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock and minute counter at 3 o’clock. Peripheral tachymeter scale. Gold central chronograph hand. Round plated case with rectangular pushers on the right for chronograph functions, stainless steel screw-down case back, fluted plated crown (with some plating wear). Acrylic plexiglass crystal. Landeron 248 manual-winding mechanical movement with 17 jewels, chronograph function (cam and lever clutch), and Incabloc shock absorbers. Fitted with a brown leather strap featuring a central rib and a gold buckle. It works and all chronograph functions operate correctly. Pending servicing by a watchmaker. Measurements: 37 mm case diameter (excluding crown and pushers) Pairing this Desotos watch with a Landeron 248 chronograph movement—a testament to Swiss savoir-faire—is to speak of the democratization of excellence. This is not the story of Geneva’s unattainable luxury, but rather that of the industrial and artisanal mastery of the Jura valleys, where precision became a way of life Provenance: Family legacy of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. An art and heritage collection whose origins lie in the legacy of the Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a key figure in 19th-century Catalan realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched over successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original estates of both artists, along with new acquisitions made by their descendants. They maintained a special dedication to the preservation and restoration of the family legacy, acquiring works by the painters themselves as they came onto the market and progressively expanding the collection with paintings, sculptures, archaeological pieces, and other objects of artistic and historical interest. In the descriptions of the watches, the phrase “it works” means that the watch is functioning. Since collector’s watches typically have delicate and complex mechanisms, the buyer is responsible for any general servicing, inspection, battery replacement, adjustment, or repair that may be necessary. We do not guarantee the perfect functioning of any watch. All photographs of our watches are original and were taken by our photographers; in other words, we do not use stock photography, which is why the photographs are considered part of the catalog entry.