Founded in 1947 in Niort (France) to supply members of the MAIF mutual insurance group, Camif was born as a cooperative company specializing in mail order sales, occasionally acting as intermediaries between suppliers and consumers to redesign products to simplify usability and lower prices. The company went bankrupt in 2008 and was relaunched in 2009 by Emery Jacquillat, founder of Matelsom, with a shift toward “Made in France” and eco-responsibility.

Camif’s line of watches included everything from dress watches, divers, and racing chronographs —such as this one— often powered by Valjoux movements and following the design trends of their time.

This particular chronograph is a treat to the eyes. Enclosed inside a chunky 40mm case is a Valjoux 7734 hand-wound movement, topped with a grey exotic racing dial and white hands, reminiscent of the Tudor Montecarlo, the Croton Computer, or the Yema Rallye. The watch has been serviced recently, and comes accompanied by a travel case to take on many an adventure.