1970s | ROCAR | Swiss made | mechanical timer / stopwatch | working | 49mm

Vintage 1970s ROCAR Swiss Mechanical 45-Minute Wrist Stopwatch – Football / Sports Timer – Working

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Era and identification :

Estimated production period: 1970s.

Vintage mechanical wrist-mounted stopwatch / sports timer by ROCAR.

* ROCAR – dial marking
* ANTIMAGNETIC – dial marking
* SWISS MADE – marked on the strap
* 19 mm – strap width marking
* Mechanical hand-wound timer
* 45-minute register
* Tested and working

The 45-minute register makes the timer particularly well suited to football match timing, where each half is 45 minutes. It may have been intended for refereeing or other timed sporting activities, although its exact original application is not confirmed.

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Material :

Red synthetic/resin-type case with matching red perforated synthetic strap.

Black dial with white, orange, yellow, green and red markings.

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Design :

A highly distinctive piece of purpose-built 1970s sports equipment, designed more like an instrument than a conventional wristwatch.

There is no traditional hour-and-minute time display. Instead, the dial is dominated by timing scales, with a large central white hand and a smaller red indicator. The prominent 45-minute register is especially interesting in the context of football, corresponding directly to the length of one half of a standard match.

The bright red case and matching perforated strap give it a strong period sports aesthetic, while the oversized black winding/control crown emphasizes its function as a practical timing instrument.

The multicolored graphics against the black dial have an unmistakable 1970s appearance and make this an unusual display piece even outside of stopwatch or football collecting.

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Size :

Case diameter: approximately 49 mm

Case thickness: approximately 17 mm

Strap marked: 19 mm / SWISS MADE

Please refer to the actual measurements shown in the photos for dimensions.

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Condition and wear :

Tested and working.

Vintage used condition with age-related wear, marks, scratches and discoloration to the case and strap.

The original retail/inventory sticker remains attached to the back and reads “SIGMA 68.-”.

No recent service history is known. Accuracy and long-term mechanical performance have not been professionally tested.

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History :

Before inexpensive digital sports timers became commonplace, mechanical stopwatches remained important equipment for coaches, officials, referees and athletes. Wrist-mounted versions offered an obvious practical advantage: the timer could remain immediately accessible while leaving both hands free.

This ROCAR is an especially interesting example because it abandons the conventional wristwatch layout entirely. Its dial is organized around elapsed-time measurement, and the prominent 45-minute register gives the instrument a natural connection with football, where 45 minutes defines each half of regulation play.

The red resin-style construction, perforated sports strap and bold multicolored instrument-like dial also place the piece firmly within the design language associated with 1970s sporting equipment. During this period, synthetic cases and vivid colors increasingly appeared in watches and specialized timing instruments, producing designs very different from the restrained metal stopwatches of earlier decades.

Today, the combination of Swiss manufacture, mechanical operation, wrist-mounted format and unusual 45-minute timing display makes this an interesting crossover collectible for vintage watch, stopwatch, sports-equipment and football memorabilia collectors.

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Important vintage note :

This is a vintage second-hand item. Minor imperfections, slight color differences, light wear, and variations due to screen settings are natural and expected with age. These characteristics are part of the item’s history and authenticity. Post-purchase discount requests based on minor vintage traits will not be accepted. If you are looking for a perfect, mint condition item, please avoid this.

rm-26I4