Famed for their pilot’s watches and divers, Breitling are a watchmaker whose reputation is firmly within the arena of sports watches, but sometimes that knowledge allows a watchmaker to create a watch that would otherwise be outside of their normal area of expertise, as this Mervos medical chronograph suggests. Made of gold-capped stainless steel, this oversized monopusher chronograph speaks to the needs of mid-century doctors and nurses who would need to time patients pulses and perform other time-sensitive tasks. Ergonomic due to its single push button that can start, stop, and reset its chronograph function, this watch allows medical professionals to time something with one hand while using their other hand for something else without have to reposition. Manually-wound and co-branded on its dial, this rare chronograph is a must-have for early chronograph collectors and those who appreciate a well-built mid-century tool watch from outside of the usual areas that tool watches were normally built for.

Watch is in overall very good condition. The yellow gold-coloured mid-case remains excellent, with surface scratches and marks visible throughout, while the steel case back retains partially legible serial number. The winding crown shows some wear to the finish. The Breitling Mervos-signed salmon dial shows scratches and surface damage between seven and ten o’clock. The pulsation scale retains a vibrant blue hue, with some damage visible in the aforementioned areas. The purpled hands remain reasonably clean. It is fitted with a black Breitling leather strap and a gold-plated Breitling pin buckle, both remaining in excellent condition.

Showcasing their expertise in the arena of chronographs, it is watches like that Mervos that enabled Breitling to garner its esteemed reputation within such a competitive niche of watchmaking.