A Restored Valjoux 72 Chronograph to Power the New Singer Heritage V72

Singer Reimagined releases the Heritage V72, a handsome chronograph powered by a restored new-old-stock Valjoux 72 movement. Beyond an exercise in restoration, Singer pays tribute to the calibre’s iconic architecture, revealing its hidden attributes through elevated finishings that far surpass those of the original movement. Presented in a compact 38.8mm case with a glassbox caseback, the Heritage V72 is available in steel or gold cases. As Singer stresses, the objective was not to revive a famous industrial workhouse calibre but to “take a mythical machine, understand its soul, and give it a second life worthy of its time in place.”

Revered as one of the finest manual-winding column-wheel chronograph movements in horological history, the tricompax Valjoux 72 – an evolution of the Valjoux 23 two-register calibre – made its debut in 1938 and remained in production until 1974. During its 36-year lifespan, it powered many golden-era sports chronographs and was adopted by premier brands such as Rolex, Breitling, Heuer, Universal Genève, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Longines, and others.

Like the brand’s sister company, Singer Vehicle Design, dedicated to bespoke restorations of the Porsche 911, Singer Reimagined has also indulged in “restomods” of iconic new-old-stock (NOS) calibres, such as the 2025 Heritage Chronograph, which features a restored NOS Valjoux 236 movement.

The new Heritage V72 is presented in a 38.8mm Heritage-style case with a thickness of 13.25mm, vintage piston-style pushers, glassbox sapphire crystals front and back, and a flat, fluted crown. Available in solid 18k yellow gold or stainless steel, the case is decorated with a sunray satin finish with polished bevels and pushers.

The dial, framed by the signature golden toothed flange (also found on the Caballero), varies from a matte stone-grey background for the steel case to a velvety matte black one for the gold case. Reflecting the elegant three-register layout of the Valjoux 72, both references share champagne-coloured snailed sub-dials (30-min chrono counter at 3, 12-hour totaliser at 6 and running seconds at 9 o’clock), applied golden faceted hour markers and a precision peripheral track. Capped with a golden stud, the openworked sword-shaped hands with luminescent orange inserts match the colour of the Singer’s hallmark orange chronograph seconds hand. However, the star of the show is revealed on the reverse.

To this end, Singer has selected pristine, untouched NOS Valjoux 72 movements and treated them to the highest level of horological restoration. Carefully disassembled and reassembled to exceed original manufacturing standards, Singer’s restoration has transformed the visual landscape of the movement.

Using traditional haute horlogerie techniques, the bridges are frosted for a refined, matte effect; the chamfers and screws are hand-polished to reflect light at every angle; the steel parts are rhodium-plated for longevity and brilliance; and the switch component now features a blue ALD treatment. The iconic Y-shaped chronograph bridge, spanning the geartrain, bears the inscription “Restored by Singer”. The original frequency of 18,000vph and the 44-hour power reserve have been preserved.

The yellow gold Heritage V72 is paired with a 20mm black grained leather strap that tapers to 16mm at the gold pin buckle, while the steel model comes with a grey textile strap of the same dimensions and a steel pin buckle. Limited to 50 pieces, the steel model retails for CHF 23,000 (excl. tax); the 20-piece limited gold edition retails for CHF 45,000 (excl. tax). The watches will be released in early November 2026 and will be available through official Singer Reimagined retailers or directly from Singer’s sales team. More information at singerreimagined.com.