Le Cheminant Automatic 1822
Dress Watch · Le Cheminant (Historic British-Swiss watch brand and retailer, affordable to mid-range tier)
Period: Neo-Vintage / Late 20th Century (1980s-1990s)
Type
Dress Watch
Brand
Le Cheminant (Historic British-Swiss watch brand and retailer, affordable to mid-range tier)
Movement
Swiss automatic self-winding movement, likely an ETA 2824-2 or similar baseline caliber operating at 28,800 vph with approximately 38 to 42 hours of power reserve
Dimensions
Case diameter approximately 35mm, thickness around 9mm, lug-to-lug distance 42mm, lug width 18mm
Description
A classic and understated dress watch by Le Cheminant, featuring a timeless round gold-plated case, pristine white dial, and minimalist baton markers. Driven by a reliable Swiss automatic movement, this timepiece offers an elegant, traditional aesthetic suited for formal occasions or daily professional wear.
Key Features
Minimalist dial design, prominent heritage branding with '1822' founding year, slim profile, and a practical date complication at 3 o'clock
Dial Description
Clean white dial featuring slim black printed baton hour indices, simple stick hands, a framed date window at 3 o'clock, and signature script text reading 'Le Cheminant 1822' below 12 o'clock and 'AUTOMATIC' above 6 o'clock
Case Material
Gold-plated base metal with a polished finish
Crystal Type
Domed acrylic or mineral glass crystal
Bezel Details
Fixed smooth rounded gold-plated bezel with a polished finish
Crown & Pushers
Standard push-pull fluted gold-plated crown located at the 3 o'clock position
Bracelet or Strap
Black leather strap with a crocodile grain texture and a simple gold-tone pin buckle
Caseback Details
Snap-on stainless steel case back with standard brand engravings
Movement Type
Swiss automatic self-winding movement, likely an ETA 2824-2 or similar baseline caliber operating at 28,800 vph with approximately 38 to 42 hours of power reserve
Water Resistance
Splash resistant (30 meters / 100 feet / 3 ATM); not suitable for swimming or showering
Origin & Provenance
Swiss Made with Swiss mechanical movement
Age Estimate
Circa 1980s-1990s
Cultural Significance
Representative of traditional mid-market British-Swiss collaborative watchmaking from the quartz-crisis era, appealing to enthusiasts seeking accessible mechanical elegance
Condition Notes
Good vintage condition with minor wear and slight plating loss visible on the bezel edge, clean dial and crystal, and a well-preserved replacement leather strap
Value Estimate
Estimated secondary market value between $150 and $400 USD depending on condition and service history
Care & Maintenance
Standard mechanical service recommended every 5 years; avoid moisture exposure due to vintage gold plating and non-screw-down crown
Similar Watches
Tissot Vintage Automatic, Omega Seamaster De Ville, Rotary Automatic, and Certina DS-Ascent
Interesting Facts
The Le Cheminant name dates back to 1822 as a London-based watchmaker and retailer that sourced high-quality Swiss movements, offering reliable timepieces to the British market