Tiffany & Co Astronic Chronograph By Waldan International

Waldan Watches was founded in 1979 by Oscar Waldan, a Holocaust survivor whose early exposure to watchmaking began under extraordinary circumstances. While imprisoned at Buchenwald concentration camp, Oscar was assigned to work in the camp’s clock and watch workshop, where he learned the basics of mechanical timekeeping. After the war, he formalized his training in Switzerland, studying horology at the École d’Horlogerie de Genève, and later worked for major brands such as Tissot, Universal Genève, and Invicta. His technical expertise and industry connections—most notably with Gerald Genta—gave him a strong foundation in Swiss watchmaking at a time when the craft was undergoing significant changes.

During the Quartz Crisis of the 1970s, which caused a steep decline in mechanical watch production, Oscar saw an opportunity. He began acquiring surplus high-grade Swiss movements—particularly Valjoux and El Primero chronograph calibers—with the intention of preserving traditional horology. In 1979, he established Waldan International in New York, producing limited-edition wristwatches that featured these storied movements encased in precious metals, with custom dials and classic designs. These timepieces were often co-branded or retailed through high-end outlets like Tourneau, Tiffany & Co., and Neiman Marcus, and became known for their low production volumes, quality control, and mechanical integrity.

Waldan's catalog during the 1980s–2000s consisted largely of Swiss-made chronographs and dress watches with heritage-driven aesthetics, aimed at discerning collectors. Each piece emphasized traditional finishing, conservative sizing, and high-grade mechanical movements. Oscar personally oversaw design and production, ensuring each model adhered to his standards of quality. After Oscar’s passing, the brand was dormant for a time, but in 2020, his son Andrew Waldan relaunched the company with a new direction—paying homage to his father’s legacy while adapting to contemporary watchmaking.

The modern Waldan brand operates out of New York, assembling watches in the U.S. using American-made Ameriquartz movements. These new models are positioned as accessible, well-built, and classically styled wristwatches that reflect both the founder’s values and the demands of today’s enthusiast market. Waldan remains one of the few watch companies with a deeply personal story tied to 20th-century history, traditional Swiss horology, and the revival of American watch manufacturing. To learn more, visit their official history page: https://waldanwatches.com/pages/history.

Model: Astronic Chronograph

Movement: An automatic and modified 3019 El Primero caliber

Year: Circa 1980s

Contents: Watch Only

Case: The case is 40mm and is 18k gold. You can see that it is unpolished and it has a beautiful patina.

Dial: The dial is gloss white with applied Arabic numerals.

Strap & Buckle: The original buckle on our handmade navy alligator strap.