Western Europe, Switzerland, ca. 1930s CE. A beautiful Swiss made wristwatch marked "Chronograph Telemetre Base 60" with a 18K (75.83% to 76%) gold case, manual movement with an interesting rose gold dial face with 2 sub dials, blue hands, and an alligator leather band. This watch is comparable to luxury watchmakers such as Tissot but does not have any discernable maker marks. This watch features a double case, the exterior is marked 18K and Swiss hallmarks. Winds and functions, although long term accuracy and time keeping has not been tested. This is sporty watch was designed for pilots and racing enthusiasts, the chronograph is a specialized timepiece designed to function as a stopwatch integrated with a regular watch display and subdials to mark seconds and even fractions of a second. See the extended description below for additional marking and mechanism information. Size of case: 1.35" Diameter x 0.52" Thickness (3.4 cm x 1.3 cm); band: 7" L x 0.67" W (17.8 cm x 1.7 cm); gold quality: 75.83% to 76% (equivalent to 18K)

On the outer case is a very faint head in profile just above the gold purity, symbolizing Helvetia, the female national personification of Switzerland. Further above a 12B mark within a hammer head known as a "poincons de maitre" to identify the case maker. The interior of the case has a serial number "4105" with a faint hand-etched name or date. The interior case known as a cuvette is often used in early 20th century European watches as extra protection for the mechanism, and is marked "METAL 4105," and made of brass. Base metals were commonly used on the cuvette, and the inclusion of a cuvette is sign of high-quality watches. The inner movement is marked "A.R.F.S" (Avance Retard / Faster Slower) with a graduated scale on the balance cock under the regulator lever (the lever pointing to the center of the scale is ideal). Several rubies are visible, but the exact number of jewels is unknown.

Provenance: private British Columbia, Canada collection, gifted from aunt in Tucson, Arizona, USA, acquired prior to 1994

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#182685

Vintage, used condition. Needs servicing, but functions when wound, but long term accuracy and time keeping has not been tested. Wear to the leather strap, which could be replaced. Surface abrasions and small indentations to gold case. Abrasion to the winding handle knob. No discernable maker marks but XRF tested as 18k gold.