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

Vintage 1970s ROCAR Swiss Mechanical 45-Minute Wrist Sports Timer – Noryl Case – Working

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Era and identification :

Estimated production period: 1970s.

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

* ROCAR (dial marking)
* ANTIMAGNETIC (dial marking)
* SWISS MADE (marked on strap)
* 19 mm (strap width marking)
* NORYL (case material marking)
* 45-minute timing register
* Mechanical hand-wound movement
* Tested and working

The specialized 45-minute scale makes this particularly suitable for football match timing, where each half lasts 45 minutes. Its exact original sporting application is not stated on the timer itself.

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Material :

Black Noryl plastic case with black synthetic perforated sports strap.

Noryl is a family of engineering thermoplastics developed by General Electric and used where dimensional stability and durability were useful. Its presence here is particularly characteristic of the period’s move toward synthetic materials in functional sporting and technical equipment.

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Design :

This is not a conventional wristwatch but a dedicated mechanical timing instrument designed to be worn directly on the wrist.

The black dial uses multiple concentric scales in white, orange, yellow and green, with a large central white timing hand and a smaller red indicator. The prominent 45-minute scale is the most distinctive feature and gives the piece an immediate connection to football and other sports organized around fixed periods of play.

The oversized crown/control at the bottom of the case can be operated while the timer remains on the wrist. The perforated 19 mm Swiss-made strap continues the functional sporting aesthetic, while the black Noryl case gives the entire piece a distinctly 1970s instrument-panel appearance.

Unlike a conventional stopwatch with a pause-and-resume function, stopping this timer returns the mechanism to zero. It cannot be stopped and then restarted from the previously elapsed position.

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Size :

Case diameter: approximately 48 mm

Case thickness: approximately 18 mm

Strap width: 19 mm

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

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Condition and wear :

Tested and working.

The mechanical timer winds and runs. When stopped, the mechanism returns to zero; it does not resume from the stopped position.

There is a dent / deformation in the crystal, together with scratches and surface wear. The case and strap also show age-related marks, wear and discoloration.

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

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History :

Mechanical wrist timers occupied an interesting niche before electronic and digital stopwatches became inexpensive and ubiquitous. Instead of requiring an official, coach or athlete to carry a conventional pocket stopwatch, the instrument could remain strapped to the wrist and immediately accessible during an event.

The unusual 45-minute register is especially notable. Forty-five minutes corresponds exactly to one half of a regulation football match, making this format naturally useful for football refereeing and match timing. The timer itself does not carry a football-specific inscription, however, so it is best understood more broadly as a specialized sports timer with a layout particularly suited to football.

Its construction is equally characteristic of its era. By the 1970s, watch and instrument manufacturers were increasingly experimenting with engineering plastics, vivid dial graphics and purpose-built case forms. This ROCAR dispenses almost completely with the visual language of a traditional watch: there are no conventional hour and minute hands, and virtually every element of the dial is devoted to measuring elapsed time.

The combination of a mechanical movement, large instrument-style dial, Noryl case, Swiss-made perforated strap and specialized timing scale makes it an unusual surviving example of pre-digital wearable sports equipment.

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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.