The Valjoux 7750 is one of the most reliable automatic chronograph movements on the market. It is not the most sophisticated or the most user-friendly, but it is built solidly. For a chronograph, the movement is very simple and only has few weaknesses.
| Frequency 28800 bph = 4 hz |
| Power reserve 44-48 h |
| Diameter 30 mm |
| Thickness 7.9 mm |
| Lift angle 49 degrees |
| 17 jewels |
| Central hours, -minutes, central chronograph seconds, running seconds at 9 o'clock, 30-minute counter at 12 o'clock, 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock, day and date at 3 o'clock |
(Breitling, and especially the Chronomat line, is perhaps one of the most well-known and dedicated users of the Valjoux 7750.)
The Valjoux 7750 evolved from the Valjoux 7733 manual chronograph movement, which itself was a descendant of the Venus 188. When Valjoux's sister company Venus went out of business in 1966, Valjoux inherited the 188 movement and manufactured it under the name Valjoux 7730 from then on. A few years later, the manually-wound 7730 movement was updated and replaced by the 7733, which achieved great popularity during its production until 1978.
(Sector Golden Eagle chronograph from the 1990s.)
In 1969, there was a fierce competition between different manufacturers to see who would produce the first automatic chronograph movement.
In 1969, there was a fierce competition between different manufacturers to produce the first automatic chronograph movement. Seiko, Heuer, Buren, Breitling and Zenith, among others, came to the market with their own versions. Valjoux had to rise to the challenge and work began with the aim of producing a movement suitable for mass production, which would be better in terms of price-quality ratio and durability than its competitors. The development work resulted in the Valjoux 7750 movement in 1973, which was not as visually beautiful as, for example, Zenith's 3019 PHC, but was unparalleled in terms of functions, reliability and price-quality ratio.
(Hamilton Jazzmaster chronograph ref H32766513.)
The quality of the Valjoux 7750 movement is evident in how many different brands have ended up using it. Breitling, Sinn, Montblanc, Tudor, Heuer, Alpina and many other watch manufacturers in different price ranges have used the 7750 movement and its various versions in their watches. In the 1970s, Valjoux only produced the movement in one quality grade, which was visually very unremarkable, but technically top quality. Later, when the movement was transferred to ETA, it was produced in four different quality grades, which were Standard, Elabore, Top and Chronometre. The quality grades were distinguished by their accuracy and level of finishing.
In addition to its reliability, the Valjoux 7750 is also truly versatile.
In addition to its reliability, the Valjoux 7750 is also very versatile. It is relatively simple to add features to the dial, and many manufacturers have added features such as the moon phase. Thanks to its robust and simple structure, the watch is also easy to service for a chronograph. Spare parts are also readily available, which is of course a plus from the end user's perspective. If you really want to look for something worth developing in the movement, the chronograph pushers are not the most sensitive and you have to really press them. The automatic rotor that only pulls in one direction is also not ideal. The biggest concerns with 7750 movements that come in for service are the often worn bearings of the mainspring bridge and the broken quick-set date when it has been used around midnight.
(Union Glashutte Belisar Moonphase chronograph with added moonphase and pointer date features.)
(Auguste Reymond chronograph also with added moon phase and pointer date features. The moon phase subdial is positioned in a different position than on the Hamilton.)
In 1983, ETA acquired Valjoux and production of the 7750 movement continued under their name. In 2002, ETA's owner, Swatch Group, announced that production of movements for operators outside the group would be discontinued. This created a demand for various companies, such as Sellita, who began to manufacture their own, practically cloned version of the 7750 movement, the SW500. This movement was to be offered to watch brands who did not have access to ETA's own 7750 movements. Over the years, Sellita has developed its movement, created several different versions of it, and countless different watch brands have adopted it as part of their watches.
With its innovation, it ensured that even smaller watch manufacturers could catch up with automatic chronograph movements, and this in turn has contributed to the spread of mechanical watches and their appreciation among consumers over the decades.
(Bulova chronograph from around the mid-1990s.)
More than 50 years after its release, the 7750 movement still holds a strong position. Its innovation ensured that even smaller watchmakers could catch up with automatic chronograph movements, and this in turn has contributed to the spread of mechanical watches and their appreciation among consumers over the decades. Without the 7750 movement, the world of watches would not be what we know it to be today.