BIFORA
 
Bifora is the first German watch manufacturer, founded in 1900 by Josef Bidlingmaier. He succeeded to establish the company as an assured player on the watch market with the quality characteristic “Made in Germany”.
 
In 1928, the company was able to produce their own watch movement in series. One also took a leading position when in 1951 the first German automatic movement could be presented. A few years later the model “Unima” was launched, which was also available as a chronometer and is coveted today by many collectors and connoisseurs.
 
Between 1960 and early 1970s, Bifora produced watches in Schwäbisch Gmünd with more than 1,000 employees. Thus, Bifora was the largest German watch factory at that time.
 
With the emergence of the quartz era Bifora could not withstand the low-wage competition from Asia and the short-term relocation of production to India could not save the company.
 
At the beginning of 2011, with the idea to bring the brand Bifora back to life, a small team started the implementation. The Bifora Uhren-Manufaktur GmbH specially established for this purpose intend to revive the tradition and to produce high-quality mechanical watches facing today's requirements.
 
BIFORA Unima
Chronometer
18 Jewes
Incabloc
 
Fritz von Osterhausen in Wristwatch Chronometers – The vast majority of wristwatches certified as chronometers in West Germany were tested at the Watch Testing Agency of the State of Baden Wurttemburg which initiated services in 1955 and terminated them in 1967 when Jungans stopped submitting watches. During this period Jungans was responsible for an overwhelming portion of the tested watches, almost certanly accounting for well over 90% of the estimated 130,000 cumulative total. Bifora, the brand used for watches produced by the J. Bidlingmaier firm, appears to have certified perhaps an average of 100 watches per year, or a bit over 1,000 in total. The German Federation testing followed established Swiss values very closely, although periodic revisions were sometimes enacted years later. Nonetheless, it seems clear that overall standards were comparably high, unlike those of Soviet East Germany at this time.
 
An incredible and rare timepiece, this time, we are presenting a vintage Bifora Unima chronometer wristwatch, reference 4499 and dated from the late 1950s.
 
It is a manual-winding watch with a German Bifora movement caliber B 72, 18 jewels, incabloc, hack mechanism, sweep second-hand.
 
Simple and classic design, this watch is cased in a 35mm all stainless-steel round case. Water resistant, shockprotected and antimagnetic.
 
Still has the original white dial (showing some age and patina) with gold hour markers, luminous dots, black minute/second track, and gold/luminous matching hands. The dial is also signed with the Bifora name/logo and Unima Chronometer 18 Jewels Incabloc.
 
It comes on a new-old-stock light brown alligator two-piece leather strap.

This watch is is a perfect collector's piece, it is in good condition. Runs very well, keeps good time!

Thank you for looking! Please feel free to contact us with any question, or respectful offers.

Movement:
6677
B 72

Case Markings:
Chronometre
4499
All Stainless Steel
Waterresistant
Shockprotected
Antimagnetic

Measurements (mm):
Case Diameter 35
Case Diameter w/Crown 37.6
Case Lug to Lug 42.7
Case Thickness 10
Lug Width 18
Band Width 18

Vintage watches are traditionally smaller than today's watches. Men’s watches typically measure between 29-36mm wide (some larger, some smaller) excluding the crown. In the listing details we typically try to do our best to list all pertinent dimensions of a watch. If you don't see it, or we failed to do so, please reach out to us. Women’s watches from the 1900s-1970s were also much smaller than today's offerings. Please also feel free to ask any questions you have pertaining to size.

We prefer to shoot photographs outside when weather is permitting. However, when we shoot indoors, please be aware that we shoot our photographs inside of lightboxes that are lit with 360 LED bulbs. This indeed magnifies any flaws. Usually, they are much less obvious to the naked eye. Having said that, we never photoshop any of our photography, remove blemishes, etc. We adjust lighting when necessary, but what you see is what you are getting, and we take pride in that.

The condition is pre-owned.

The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear but is fully operational and functions as intended.
Please review the photos and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
It will be carefully packed.

Please view our other listings.
Thank you for looking!

WA-0613