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Joël Pynson
March 2025
Manufacture Le Phare was the largest producer of chronograph and repeater watches in the early 20th century. The models were very numerous, combining various complications and levels of quality.
For its calibers, the Manufacture had its own reference system in the form of capital letters. For example, OVC, ZM, UMC, etc. Some letters are easy to decipher: O stood for oridinary finish, L for luxury finish and E for extra-smooth finish. Similarly, C stands for chronograph and CC for chronograph counter. But with the multiplication of the number of references, and therefore the number of letters, in-house classification makes it difficult to assess a caliber's level of quality.
This article proposes a simple classification, based on the level of finish of the calibers, which gives an order of magnitude of the watch's value. The value of a watch is therefore linked to :
- the calibre's level of quality
- whether or not complications (calendar and/or repeater) have been added.
The value of additional complications is the one usually recognized. Thus, from the simplest to the most complicated :
- simple chronograph (without counter), chronograph counter, instantaneous counter, rattrapante
- simple calendar (day, date, month), moon phases, perpetual calendar
- quarter, 5-minute and minute repeater.
Classification of chronograph calibres
3rd quality chronograph
2nd quality chronograph
1st quality chronograph
Classification of chronograph and repeater calibers
Le Phare repeaters are easily recognized by their distinctive patented regulator.
Simple chronograph - repeater, 4th quality
Simple chronograph - repeater, 3rd quality
Chronograph counter - repeater, 3rd quality
Simple chronograph - repeater, 2nd quality
Chronograph counter - repeater, 2nd quality
Simple chronograph and counter chronograph - repeater, 1st quality
