Essential Lemania 5100s

[DaveS]

I have begun to realise that I am near the end of my 5100-collecting (at last says Al), so I thought I would do a few posts (over the next few weeks).

This is the first, and is the watches that I would consider to be representative of what the Lemania 5100 means to other collectors or WIS's.

Here they are



Why have I chosen them?

These are the ones that illustrate the perceived use of the 5100. Tool-like, military, issued.

Looking at them individually, moving in rows from the top, left to right.

Sinn EZM1
Well. You can't collect 5100s without having one. They are what many people consider to be the most attractive (in collecting rather than aesthetic terms) watch using the movement, and it is probably the one with the most value, outside a precious few rarities.
What's to argue with (Al, keep quiet)?
300m WR, Titanium, AR filled, CuSO4 moisture collection capsule, domed sapphire with AR, killer lume. And one of the most decorative "tool dials" designed.

Porsche Design
My one is a civil version, but the PD is the original Bund 5100, the movements first military qualification. This design derives from the earlier 7750-powered examples (Jon) and is a classic of understated functional design deriving from the early 70s, a time not known for the kind restraint shown here.
Before the EZM1 arrived, this was the popular icon of 5100 chronographs. Even Bodie and Doyle wore them in the Professionals.

Omega 176.0012
These were never issued, and some might argue that they are too dressy to fit the modern definition of tool. I would disagree.
But the main reason it's here is that Omega were using the 5100 (or 1045 as they call it) for about 4 years before anyone else got their hands on it, from 1974. So no 5100 collection should be without one.
My one is later, 1980s, and (imho) the nicest looking of the early series of Lemania Omegas, with a Mark II style case.
Classic Speedmaster white on black legibility. This reminds me it needs more wrist time.

Tutima Commando II
This is the random addition to the group, as I am beginning to think that it doesn't really earn its place. This variant was never issued. I included it as I happened to be wearing it and it is one of my favourites. Clear, comfy, highly functional without clutter. This definitely gives the EZM1 a good run for its money in my eyes.

Lemania
This is included for two reasons. Firstly, it is made by the Daddy, Lemania. This also explains why it is there in the centre.
It is also there to represent what it otherwise clones, the Sinn 142, another of Sinn's 5100-powered icons, which represents the 5100's other "claim to fame" other than military use, which is its use in space.
The 142 was always claimed by Sinn to be the first automatic chronograph in space, as worn by 2 German astronauts, Flade and Furrer. It is a shame that it isn't quite true on either count.

Rodania
This is there to represent the second of the German issued 5100 shapes, the Tutima, still made today. Unlike the Commando, this is in its original issued format (even if it was never issued from Rodania). I do love this case. In mm terms it is huge, but it wears its size very well with almost nothing protruding from the curved edge hexagon of the overall shape.

Fortis Cosmonaut
The other watch company to get time in orbit for the 5100 is Fortis. This particular variant is the semi-dive one, with numerals on the dial (not indices) but a one-way bezel rather than a tachymetre. A relatively small Rolex-derived case design makes this a very easy watch to wear, and it also looks great on NATO

Sinn 156
Sinn hoped to succeed the Heuer Bund with this offering, but others (PD, Tutima, Arctos and Tengler) won the contracts. I love the size and shape of this one, and the really wide bezel. This particular one is an earlier one with the Heuer Bund screw retaining system, before they went to a screwed-back case.

Tengler Bund
This is a rare one. Only ever 500 out there (plus a non-specific number of prototypes), this is not something you see every day. With the PD and the Tutima, it is the only other shape of Bund-issued 5100.
It is also the clone of the Arctos Bund, the Sinn 157, the Heuer AMI and the EZM4, so is representative of them too.


So there we go. 9 watches that cover most of the perceived use of the 5100.

Not really a review, just a little tour into my rather focussed collection.

I am sure that some will want others to be included (like a Heuer), or argue that the examples I have (such as the Rodania) are not really representative. Fair enough, I am not sure I'd argue, but these are what I have, and I see them as covering the field.

D

[page]

A great group that you have Dave . The common thread of the 5100 has produced individual looking watches each with their own merits. I particularly like the Omega with its printed glass and interesting sub dials. Although it still has that 70's styling.

Have you enjoyed the journey?

Question for you though, if this is the end of the 5100 collection what's next? Or are you going to relax and appreciate them for a while after spending so much time researching and sourcing them.

[DaveS]

Cheers Martin

I've loved the journey, it's been great fun. Frustrating at times, but on balance it has tended much more towards the rewarding, satisfying end of things.

I did say "near the end". I am not sure I'm quite done yet. There are one or two more to think about before I take final stock and think about which of them become the real keepers, and which go on to fuel the next steps.

I have a couple of other watches that I am beginning to think are needing my attention, but I am in no hurry at the moment....

D

[Pascal S]

Dave, you are a lucky man because you are noticeably more focused than I am in collecting these beauties.

As the other Lemania 5100 nut on the forum, I'll add a few things to what Dave wrote in his initial post. Let me start by saying that his selection is very interesting. While I tend to go bananas for any Lemania 5100 powered chronograph, I also believe some models are iconic enough to be genuine "must haves" in a collection:

• An Omega Speedmaster.
  As Dave pointed out, Omega made available its flavour of the 5100 (known as calibre 1045) in 1974, 4 years before any other brand got access to this movement. While the 176.0012 is a wonderful watch, the culmination of the series came in 1987 with model 376.0822, a.k.a. the Grail. While this watch is near impossible to find at a decent price nowadays, it remains one of the most impressive Lemania-powered chronographs ever made...
  
  
• A Sinn EZM1.
  That's a watch that has always eluded me. Either I was not interested when I could have bought one, or when I finally succombed to the particular charm of that toolwatch, the market had gone crazy and I just couldn't afford it. One day, maybe. The fact remains that it is an important step in the Lemania 5100 history, with a chronograph choosing to ignore some of the available functions to focus on legibility. The chronographs Lemania made in the late 70s for the South African and Australian Air Forces had already used this principle, but these watches are way too rare to be fully representative of a trend.
  
  
• An Orfina Porsche Design.
  Forget Tom Cruise in Top Gun, and Body and Doyle doing donuts in their Capri. The Orfina is the first German Army issued Lemania 5100, and by far the most iconic. A genuine instrument for professionals, well before Breitling turned this phrase into a marketing gimmick, the Orfina has presence and influenced the design of many chronographs that followed. Its descendants were still available when Swatch Group pulled the plug on the Lemania 5100.
  
  
• A Tutima Military Chronograph.
  Sure, other chronographs like the Arctos and the Tengler were made for military purposes, both based on the Lemania/Heuer made for the Italian Air Force, but the Tutima takes the game to another level. Literally built like a tank, this watch is the one I would want to have with me if I found myself stranded on a desert island. The Commando II version, while a great watch that I would love to acquire one day, strays a bit from the original template in my opinion.
  
  
• A Sinn 140 "Mark II"
  While its Sinn 142 successor got all the glory for a misrepresented achievement (the first automatic chronograph in space was in fact a Seiko), the Sinn 140 "Mark II" (sometimes referred as model 141) is the watch that went to Space with Reinhard Furrer. Powered by the slow beat version of the 5100 (calibre Lemania 5012), this watch got eclipsed by its later evolutions, and that's what makes it more desirable in my opinion.
  
  
• A Fortis chronograph.
  I'm staying vague here because both the Stratoliner and the more recent Official Cosmonauts Chronograph have a documented space history. The latter is probably the more interesting of the two, and its diminutive size makes it easy to wear.

[Spark]

Great collection Dave or part of.
I haven't had such a focused collection as yours in ages.

[flugzeit]

Dave,

Great post, this one!

I've been meaning to ask you... you mention the Tengler as the clone of the Arctos, Sinn 157, etc. Which maker is the originator of this design, or did numerous makers assemble this version, externally sourcing the cases, movements, etc. more or less at the same time?

Cheers,
-flugzeit

[DaveS]

You know, I am not sure who came first, but plan to plot it out. The Sinn 157 (and EZM4 Achilles) was after the event, but the exact timing of Tengler, Arctos, Lemania AMI, Heuer AMI, Spanish Airforce version and so forth is not known to me.

The prevalence of the case from different manufacturers would indicate that it was an externally designed (and IP owned) item, merely bought in or sourced by the various companies.

It is possible that Sinn reverse engineered it to make it their own, as they continued to develop it further with shrouded pushers and so forth being added. This is not unusual for them, they have done the same with other watches (Heuer Bund to Sinn 156, PD to one of the current Guinands etc).

Pascal may well have a bit more on this.

Dave

[flugzeit]

Thanks, Dave. I have some original documentation that came with my Tengler. I'll dig it out and see if it provides any useful information. I'll post it here in that case.

Cheers,
-flugzeit

[aikiman44]

Great pics and info.

[Pascal S]

I agree with Dave that it's not exactly easy to find out who came first with this design. I also agree that the case is likely to be an external design, much like the Omega FIFA/Heuer Cortina case was.

As late as the early 90s, Lemania was still selling watches with these cases for military contracts, the last I am aware of being the procurement of chronographs for pilots of Italy's Guardia di Finanza units.