Cyma Navystar Automatic

[clockwatcher]

Hi all!

I picked this gold-plated Cyma up today after spotting it in a militaria dealer's shop. I think the only military connection is the 'Navy' in the name but the watch seems pretty nice. The dial and hands are unmarked and the crystal only lightly scratched. The numerals at 6, 9 and 12 are Roman and the batons are long (even numbers) and short (odd numbers). There are one or two small dings in the case but the plating is fine. Cosmetically the worst thing is the back. Someone has tried hard to get the back off in the past and in failing has left a number of deepish scratches. It was damned hard to get off but having the right tools made the difference. The other slight letdown is the crown, from which the gold is peeling.

The movement is a CYMA R.824.00 but I can find nothing about it online. Ranfft doesn't list the movement (at least, not under Cyma) so I hope that some of you can shed some light. The name and movement number are on the rotor along with '21 jewels Swiss'. To the left of the balance on the edge of the bridge is the number 816. Inside the back it's stamped 7-824-001-8 and 525 and the case is stamped between the lugs - 78240018 and Plaque Or G20 (with a symbol for microns that I can't type).

The mainspring will take power from the winding stem and the only problem I can find is that the click occasionally slips, whether from a loose screw or wear on the click or ratchet wheel I can't yet say. I gave it a few turns and the watch has been going well, and accurately as far as I can tell.

I'm very pleased with the watch as it was bought very reasonably but I'd like to know more about it if anyone can add anything. Sorry about the pics, they were taken with my phone.

[Marc]

I can't really tell much from you pics but if you have a look here

 

http://www.relojes-especiales.com/foros/esenciales/cyma-tavannes-85746/

 

There is a similar watch to yours with a clearer image of the R824 movement. The rotor is rotated 180 degrees to yours and you can see the arrangement for retaining the rotor. To me that looks distinctly AS.

 

I suspect that your R824 is based on or is possibly simply a rebranded AS movement and if you look under the balance wheel you may even see the AS cal number stamped into the main plate.

[clockwatcher]

Thanks Marc, I'll check it out!

[clockwatcher]

Yep, that's the kiddie!

I checked under the balance when I first opened the case but couldn't see any marks. I've had another look but still nothing visible. I also looked at all the AS movements in Ranfft's database but couldn't find a match.

One distinctive feature of the balance mechanism is the regulator mechanism. The index is separate from the regulator proper and connected via a ratchet arrangement that engages with fine teeth on the circumference of a ring beneath the regulator. As you move the index between (+) and (-) so the ratchet moves the regulator in the opposite direction thus the (-) is on the outside of the movement rather than the inside.

The rotor engages with two double geared wheels. The wheels engage on the winding stroke and rotate together, and then contra-rotate on the back stroke.

The movement is well-finished with curved radial guilloche engraving to the rotor and plates.

That's about all I can say at the moment but hopefully more of you will see this post on Sunday.

[rogart63]

Could it be a variant of the 482.2 http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&0&2uswk&Cyma_482_2

[clockwatcher]

Thanks for that rog - I had a look but its not close.

It did prompt me to have another image search online that produced a Zodiac movement that greatly resembled mine. That movement was apparently based on the AS1687 - well done Marc - which I had a close look at. Although it's a manual wind movement, when I enlarged the Ranfft image I could see that the regulator mechanism was the same. I'm surprised that there's little or nothing about the Cyma variant online. I'll keep searching though.

Progress at any rate! :-)

[clockwatcher]

Right, here it is! This Zodiac is, aside from some cosmetic details, identical.

www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&0&2uswk&Zodiac_76

The Cyma is certainly a 21,600 bph 21 jewel movement and the engine turning is very like that on another Zodiac movement I saw online but can't now find!