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Joël Pynson and Sébastien Chaulmontet
First publication: July 2017
Updated : February 2025
Rima was a New York watch distributor
1. Proposed terminology
The Invicta Secontrol has the ability to measure short times, but does not have all the functions of a chronograph, i.e. start, stop and reset of a seconds hand.
This type of watch used to be known as a Stop watch. Generally speaking, a Stop watch always allows a counter hand to return to zero. Compared to a chronograph, however, there is a missing function: either the hand cannot be held at zero, which is what we call a "stop-en-vol" watch, or the hand, once reset to zero, started and then stopped, cannot be held in position without pressure on the pusher, in which case we call it a "chrono-stop" watch.
To recognize them easily, just look at the seconds hand: if it's constantly moving, it's a stop-en-vol watch; if it's fixed at zero, it's a chrono-stop.
2. Stop-en-vol watches
The first of these watches was released in 1936: the Mimo Mimolympic, also marketed by Girard-Perregaux. In 1937, Ébauches SA launched two stop-en-vol calibers: the Venus 103 and 131. They were used by numerous manufacturers such as Fortis, Delma and Eloga.
1936
1939
Around 1937, Rolex introduced the Centregraph, or Zerograph, an extremely rare watch.
In 1939, Longines launched its own version called Stop Seconde, of which there are two versions with center seconds and with center seconds and minute counter.
1939
3. Invicta Secontrol
Invicta began producing wrist chronographs in the early 1930s, demonstrating remarkable inventiveness with the world's first rectangular chronograph in 1932 (Invicta Chrono-Sport).
1932
In 1940, Invicta launched two stunning watches: the rare " Time Log " chronograph and the " Secontrol " Stop watch.
1940
These two watches are distinguished by their notched rotating bezels and similar dials with telemeter, tachometer and Time Start Indicator.
Pictures courtesy Matthew An and Edwin Chow
Like the Chrono-Sport, the Secontrol is the invention of Neuchâtel watchmaker Henri Jacot-Guyot, who patented it in 1940 [1].
It's a stop-en-vol watch that works as follows: the central hand turns continuously, and pressing the upper pusher resets it to zero. You can then start a time measurement by releasing the pressure on the upper pusher: the hand starts moving again. At the end of the period of time you wish to measure, press the lower pusher to stop the hand and note the time measured. The needle starts again as soon as you stop pressing the plunger.
The Secontrol also has unique spherical pushers, also patented by Henri Jacot-Guyot [2]. Some versions of Invicta Seeland chronographs also have these spherical pushers.
Jacot-Guyot's idea was to design a watertight puscher, thanks to a sealing ring that is compressed when the pusher is at rest, and whose design or material could easily be modified, since the visible part is in fact simply screwed onto the pusher. In his patent, he even imagined that the pushers could be made of colored plastic, blue or red! An idea far ahead of its time.
1941
1942
There are different versions of the Secontrol dial: with or without tachometric and telemetric scales, and above all with a different position for the Time Start Indicator scale. The latter must be matched with the rotating bezel, graduated in 5-minute steps, to determine a timing start time.
Hands can be simple or luminescent.
The Secontrol was also available with a water-resistant case and classic pushers.
The caliber, without column wheel, is based on the A. Schild, caliber 984, in an economical version with only 7 jewels.
Courtesy Matthew An
Collector's opinion
These are exceedingly rare watches, of interest only to a very small circle of collectors. The Secontrol is a small watch, but deserves a little more attention. The Secontrol is not counterfeited and can be collected without fear, provided one can be found. Particular attention should be paid to the condition of the case and chrome pushers, which have an unfortunate tendency to show their age.
As for the Time Log, it's virtually impossible to find.
[1] Patent CH 214 664
[2] Patent CH 218 415
©Time To Tell, 2025
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