Favre-Leuba Bivouac ref. 53203

Favre Leuba Bivouac Reference 53223 

Founded in 1737, Favre-Leuba is one of Switzerland’s oldest watch manufactures, but it was during the 1960s that the brand produced some of its most daring creations. At a time when professional tool watches were rapidly evolving, Favre-Leuba looked not beneath the sea, but towards the world’s highest summits. 

Introduced in 1962, the Bivouac became the world’s first mechanical wristwatch to incorporate an aneroid barometer and altimeter, transforming changing atmospheric pressure into useful information for mountaineers and explorers. Decades before electronic outdoor instruments became commonplace, it allowed its wearer to monitor both altitude and approaching weather systems through an entirely mechanical movement.  

Worn by legendary alpinist Walter Bonatti and polar explorer Paul-Émile Victor during their expeditions, the Bivouac remains one of the most ingenious and technically fascinating sports watches of the era. 

Please refer to the high-resolution pictures to assess the overall condition of the watch. 

DIAL + HANDS: Immaculately preserved matte black dial surrounded by the characteristic light-blue barometric scale calibrated in millimeters of mercury.  

The applied steel indexes remain intact and complete, while all Tritium luminous dots are present and beautifully preserved.  

The distinctive orange altimeter/barometer hand provides a striking visual contrast and remains in excellent condition. The original hour, minute and small seconds hands are equally well preserved, while the printed text throughout the dial remains exceptionally sharp and complete. 

CRYSTAL: Acrylic crystal in very good condition, displaying only light superficial marks consistent with careful use, with no cracks or significant defects. 

CASE+BEZEL: Stainless-steel case measuring 40mm in diameter. Designed around the integrated aneroid pressure capsule, its purposeful architecture remains one of the defining features of the model.  

The case appears remarkably well preserved, retaining strong proportions, sharp edges, and honest signs of wear limited to light scratches, namely on top of the lugs. 

The knurled bezel rotates freely in both directions. The graduated black insert remains in excellent condition with crisp graduations and minute wear marks.  

CASEBACK: Two-part, stainless-steel screw-down case back featuring the characteristic engraved medallion of the Matterhorn. The engravings remain deep and crisp throughout, while the surface shows only light wear consistent with careful use. 

CROWN: Signed Favre-Leuba signed crown. It operates correctly, allowing smooth winding and proper time-setting. 

MOVEMENT: In-house manually wound calibre 10032, signed and numbered. It has been checked by our watchmaker, runs properly, and keeps accurate time. The barometer function works but has not been calibrated, therefore it is not guaranteed to operate accurately. 

BRACELET: 22mm blue rally-style Tropic strap fitted with a generic stainless-steel pin buckle.  

ACCESSORIES: Saffiano leather watch roll. 

WARRANTY: We guarantee the authenticity of the watch. We also provide a 12-month warranty covering the correct function of this timepiece. All guarantees are subject to our General Terms and Conditions. 

Please feel free to ask any questions; we will be delighted to assist. Personal or virtual viewing is available by appointment.