Antique 1936 Berlin Olympics LIP Gunmetal Chronograph Pocket Watch 51mm

Offered for your consideration is a rare and historically significant antique chronograph pocket watch, commemorating the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin. This exceptional 51mm timepiece was produced by the prestigious French watchmaking firm LIP, renowned during the early 20th century for their high-precision sporting and military chronographs.

Given the prominent equestrian show jumping motif alongside the German crest and “BERLIN 1936” inscription, this watch was likely produced as a premium commemorative piece or a specialized timing instrument for the equestrian events of the XI Olympiad. It represents a fascinating intersection of elite 1930s European sports timing and significant global history.

Detailed Condition & Specifications Report

The Commemorative Dial & Hands The original white enamel dial is a complex, highly functional masterpiece of sports timing, preserved in exceptional condition.

• Olympic Motifs: The center of the dial features a crisp depiction of a traditional German eagle crest on the left, balanced by an equestrian show jumper on the right, flanking the central “LIP” signature and resting above the “BERLIN 1936” dedication.

• Chronograph Scales: The dial is dominated by a stunning, multi-colored spiral tachymeter scale (Kilomètres à L’Heure) printed in alternating blue, red, and green. This sophisticated “snail” scale allows for precise speed calculations over a 1000-meter base.

• Timekeeping & Registers: The main hours are marked by bold black Arabic numerals, paired with a smaller inner 24-hour track printed in red (13-24). A 30-minute chronograph totalizer sits at the 12 o’clock position, with a running subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock.

• Hands: The time is tracked by a set of antique gold-tone hands, complemented by a finely blued steel central chronograph sweep-seconds hand.

The Gunmetal Case

• Case Exterior: The substantial 51mm case is crafted from gunmetal, providing a distinctively dark, matte patinated finish. This non-reflective material was highly favored for sporting and military watches of the era. It is handsomely accented by a gold-tone winding crown and bow.

• Inner Case Marks: The interior of the snap-on case back is stamped with the manufacturer’s mark “DEPOSE ACIER GARANTI” (Registered Guaranteed Steel/Gunmetal) along with the serial numbers “10” and “259 632”.

• The Cuvette (Dust Cover): The inner dust cover is a matching, unadorned gunmetal dome that securely protects the complex mechanics within.

The Precision Movement

• Mechanics: Powering this historical instrument is a pristine, high-grade LIP mechanical chronograph movement. The architecture features beautifully frosted gilt brass plates that provide a striking visual contrast against the intricately machined, polished steel chronograph levers and gears.

• Operating Condition: This exceptional sports chronograph remains in perfect working order. The manual-wind movement runs strongly and keeps accurate time, while all chronograph functions (start, stop, and reset) operate smoothly and return precisely to zero.

Terms of Sale This antique commemorative timepiece is a functioning piece of world history and is sold exactly as photographed. Please review all high-resolution images carefully, as they form a definitive part of the description.