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It's a happy day, a new watch arrived Watch or Accessory Review My first Official watch purchase of 2012 Image Attachments URL PDF Attachments


Ricky Lee
February 25, 2012 03:10PM
 Registered: April 2005
Posts: 17,866 (2012-03)

This is one of those watches whose initial attraction for me was simply that the marque was on my WIShlist. That being said, it also strikes a number of other chords with me, and when Bro. Allan Zirlin offered it up I was instantly intrigued. After a spot of research and a little negotiation we reached a deal, and so I am pleased to present...

Lip Type 10 Croix du Sud chronograph
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..the Type 10 "Croix du sud".

Why Lip? Well, first, they have been responsible for a number of significant horological firsts, including the first mass-produced electronic movement, in 1952. Then too, Lip was instrumental in jump-starting the modern Russian watch industry, and several Lip calibers were built under license in Russia. And, finally, I find the much-publicized labor struggles of the early 1970's to be fascinating and historically significant. And.. well, by golly, Lip has simply made some way cool watches. Laughing

Lip Type 10 Croix du Sud chronograph
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Another niche the Lip fills is that of "Coin-edge bezel". It is currently the one and only watch in my collection with this feature. And, of course, there's the movement...

Stock photo

Stock photo

Being a VD54B, it perfectly bookends my Belaggio bel tempo Ravello with VD53B and the Vollmond with VD55B. Of course that still leaves a few slots to fill..

Stock photo

..if I am to Collect The Whole Set. Which, frankly, could happen! Laughing Not that I have any concrete plans to do so, but one never knows. Wink

Lip Type 10 Croix du Sud chronograph
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

The crystal is lightly domed mineral glass, uncoated. The crown is a conventional push-pull, and the knurling is sharp and very crisply executed.

Lip Type 10 Croix du Sud chronograph
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

If am interpreting the caseback correctly, it's base metal bezel w/ SS caseback. It sure has the look of full-stainless, though, so I may be mistaken here. I can say for sure that it measures 40mm x 47.8mm x 12mm thick, with 20mm lugs. The caseback is a screwdown, and the WR Rating is 3 ATM.

The caseback also illustrates one aspect of the watch which came as a total surprise. Namely, that it is an aviation-themed piece which commemorates..

Stock photo

Stock photo
Click HERE for larger photo

..the Latécoère 300 flying boat which was named Croix du sud ("Cross of the South" or "Southern Cross"). Many thanks to Reto for providing this info with his studious research.

Of course, the OEM packaging should have provided a clue...

Lip Type 10 Croix du Sud chronograph
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Mind you the tie-in remains something of a mystery, though I can only conclude that it does indeed involve the Oil Company in some manner.

One small disappointment was the strap.

Lip Type 10 Croix du Sud chronograph
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

While it is of quite good quality, and the matte-finished buckle is beautiful, it's also midget-sized, and would be hard-pressed to fit even a 7-½ inch (19 Cm) wrist. Frowning However, it's not as if I don't run into this problem on a regular basis. And, anyway..

Lip Type 10 Croix du Sud chronograph
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..the watch works very well on a G10 NATO. Smile

The lume is likewise a bit disappointing. While it "pops" quite well initially..

Lip Type 10 Croix du Sud chronograph
Click HERE for larger photo

..it fades quite quickly, and after an hour or so it is effectively dark.

Aside from those niggling complaints, the only other downside is the tachymetre scale. Mind you, it works fine stylistically, IMHO. And with a conventional chronograph movement it'd be A-OK. However, remember that on the VD54B the chrono seconds is located at the 6H sub-dial. The central seconds is the running seconds, thus effectively rendering the tachy scale a decorative feature only.

Otherwise, I couldn't be happier with the watch! The fit and finish is very good, and wouldn't be out of place on a watch of ten times the cost. Thumbs up! And a big shoutout to Bro. Zirlin! The watch is well and truly mint.. indeed, you'd be hard-pressed to tell that it's not brand-new & never worn. The fact that it still had all the OEM packaging including the protective film on crystal and caseback only reinforces that. And, of course, Bro. Z was a pleasure to deal with. Would that all sellers were so honest, conscientious and accommodating!

One thing's for sure..

Lip Type 10 Croix du Sud chronograph
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..it wears Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr8! WIS Honeymoon

Raves

► heritage and history

► Tasteful Retro styling

► Way Cool cool Aviation theme

► Excellent fit & finish

► Near perfect size - not too big, not too small

► Innovative and unusual movement

► Time-tested Seiko / SII / TMI reliability

► Decent quality packaging and presentation

► Hey, it's a Southern watch! Laughing


Rants

► Mediocre lume

► Short strap

► Tachymetre is non-functional

As always, Dear Constant Reader, t'anks for lookin'!

Cheers!

-Ricky

Supplementary documentation:

TMI User Instruction Manual in PDF format

TMI Specification Sheet in PDF format

TMI Parts Catalog and Technical Guide in PDF format

Lip history by Nick Downes

Lip on Wikipedia (good info on the Labor Struggles)


"He looked down through the scratched, greenish glass that topped the counter. Watches there, each face to him a tiny and contained poem, a pocket museum, subject over time to the laws of entropy and of chance. These tiny mechanisms, their jeweled hearts beating. Wearing down, he knew, through the friction of metal on metal. He sold nothing unserviced, everything cleaned and lubricated. He took fresh stock to a sullen but highly skilled Pole in Oakland to be cleaned, oiled, and timed. And he did this, he knew, not to provide a better, more reliable product, but to ensure that each one might better survive in an essentially hostile universe. It would have been difficult to admit this to anyone, but it was true and he knew it. --William Gibson, narrative describing Fontaine, All Tomorrow's Parties

Messages In This Thread

It's a happy day, a new watch arrived Watch or Accessory Review My first Official watch purchase of 2012 Image Attachments URL PDF Attachments

 Ricky Lee 197 February 25, 2012 03:10PM

VERY nice!!

These could have come in handy when I was a little kid and my father would say, Watch your lip!", I could have retorted, "No, Lip, my watch!"..... on second thought, might have not turned out so well for me. wink
 FloridaSam 7 February 26, 2012 06:19PM

Nice score!!!! Clapping! Congrats Ricky.Thumbs up! (n/t)

 Mark C. 10 February 26, 2012 08:36AM

Thanks so much Bro. Mark. Smile (n/t)

 Ricky Lee 5 February 26, 2012 12:57PM

Congratulations on a fantastic watch. I'm a long time fan of Lip watches.. Jpeg Attachments

.. I have an Early Seventies Calendrier model but it's not as sharp looking as yours. Enjoy it in good health. My old Lip says Hi.
Photo by Paul J. Costa
 Paul J Costa 18 February 26, 2012 07:01AM

I'm a long-time fan WIS Honeymoon of your Calendrier. Smile

Quote
Paul J Costa
Enjoy it in good health.
Merci beaucoup.
Quote
Paul J Costa
My old Lip says Hi.
Bonjour!

Cheers!
 Ricky Lee 10 February 26, 2012 12:56PM

Thank you, it looks decent in person, however, a bit conventional looking for a Lip. (n/t)

 Paul J Costa 8 February 26, 2012 05:11PM

"Conventional" is A-OK by me! Thumbs up!

The Type 10 designs are quite traditional and conventional, after all, but they get a Big Thumbs up! from me. Wink
 Ricky Lee 5 February 26, 2012 05:24PM

A great watch , Ricky and a really great review!Cheers!Thumbs up! (n/t)

 IF 15 February 26, 2012 02:12AM

Thank you! Bro. Yannis! Blushing (n/t)

 Ricky Lee 6 February 26, 2012 12:51PM

Cool - I'm a LIP fan, especially the funkier models! Thumbs up! (n/t)

 JY 14 February 26, 2012 12:42AM

And make no mistake... URL

They do have some funky models.

Well. Funkyish, anyway. Wink
 Ricky Lee 8 February 26, 2012 12:23PM

Way Cool! (n/t)

 DRFP 10 February 25, 2012 11:10PM

Thank you! Doc. (n/t)

 Ricky Lee 6 February 26, 2012 12:45PM

The "Esso" thing stirs some interest >>

My information comes from reading "The Straight Dope", but isn't Esso one of the oil companies created by breaking up the Standard Oil Trust?
"EsSo" = "S-O" = Standard Oil

Now how does that tie in with LIP and a flying boat?
 Chris L 14 February 25, 2012 10:59PM

Re: ..isn't Esso one of the oil companies created by breaking up the Standard Oil Trust? "EsSo" = "S-O" = Standard Oil Gif Attachments

You are absolutely correct. "Esso" is directly derived from "S.O.", being the phonetic pronunciation of the letters "S" and "O". Smile

The brand was by the early 1970's largely replaced by "Exxon Mobil" and it's variations in the US Made Watch or Movement, but it is apparently still used in Europe and other environs.
Quote
Chris L
Now how does that tie in with LIP and a flying boat?
Ack! I am angry! I thought you were gonna tell me! Oops!

Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off Cheers!
 Ricky Lee 8 February 26, 2012 12:44PM

Well done and we are always happy to oblige if possible in any WIS's search.

Chances are if I have what someone is looking for I'd be perfectly willing to negotiate a deal. Very few pieces in my collection are "sacred."
 Allan Zirlin 16 February 25, 2012 07:35PM

Well. I'll remember that if ever.. Gif Attachments

..I manage to save enough nickels and dimes to make ye an offer on your what wouldn't be insulting. Wink

Laughing Cheers!
 Ricky Lee 7 February 26, 2012 12:34PM

Congrats Ricky. Looking good! Thumbs up! (n/t)

 Jimmy50 9 February 25, 2012 05:08PM

Thanks Bro. Jimmy!

High praise coming from yourself! Blushing Cheers!
 Ricky Lee 5 February 26, 2012 12:27PM

love it! (n/t)

 greg honeycutt 11 February 25, 2012 03:37PM

Well. It's no Datejust.. but I like it!

Thank you! mate.

Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off Cheers!
 Ricky Lee 6 February 26, 2012 12:26PM

Nice Type 10! (n/t)

 Micha 12 February 25, 2012 03:22PM

Thank you! Micha (n/t)

 Ricky Lee 6 February 26, 2012 12:24PM


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