Crusader Solid Palladium Trench Watch,

Creator: CRUSADER
Case Material: Palladium
Strap Material: Leather
Case Shape: Cushion
Movement: Manual Wind
Case Dimensions: Height: 0.4 in (10 mm) Width: 1.15 in (29 mm) Diameter: 1.15 in (29 mm)
Style: Art Deco
Place of Origin: United Kingdom
Period: 1920-1929
Date of Manufacture: 1920s
Condition: Good Polished. Replacements made: NOS Crystal. Repaired: Comprehensive Mechanical Cleaning Professional Dial Refinish. Wear consistent with age and use.


Permit me introduce you to this offering. This originated from England. I know that because I acquired it from a long time collector in London
This is a rare animal, not because of the name brand, it is because the case is solid Palladium. It was designed and manufactured by the renowned watch case house ?Dennison?.
Dennison at the time had partnerships with Rolex, Omega, Waltham, and regional jewelers in England.
This is a rare survivor. This is what I had completed on this watch.
New Crystal
Dial and hands were professionally refinished.
Comprehensive mechanical service February 2024
Custom made open end leather watch band for fixed lug watches
Palladium Case was hand polished.
Case Measurements 29MM 3 o?clock to 9 o?clock
32.50mm Lug to Lug
Palladium is part of the ?Nobel? metals. It is usually 95% pure like platinum, it is more scratch resistant than platinum. The hardness makes a perfect option for a wristwatch
Crusader? trademark was registered in 1916 by Gustave Homberger, trading as Fulton Watch Manufactory. Though the registration remained in force until 1937, I have been unable to find any Crusader watches from this maker.
The name ?Crusader? was used by Henry Sandoz & Fils of La Chaux-de-Fonds, certainly in the 1930s and possibly earlier, though it wasn?t registered by them as a trademark in Switzerland.
A subsidiary, Crusader Watches, was created by the Sandoz family in 1946 and this company registered a ?Crusader? trademark in 1947. Crusader Watches closed down in 1961, but the trademark transferred to the parent company and was in force until 1988.
In the UK, Crusader watches were imported by the silversmiths Adie Brothers Ltd, trading as Adie-Marlys Watch Company. In the early 1930s the company was importing Crusader watches with movements signed by the Swiss company Marlys Watch Factories.
Adie Brothers Limited had a ?Crusader? trademark registered in Switzerland from 1937 until 1948.
In 1932 Adie-Marlys Watch Company launched a scheme to enable jewellers that stocked Crusader watches to replace a defective movement on the spot. From then on, the movements of Crusader watches were fitted with transparent plastic covers to prevent accidental damage. A defective movement could be removed from the case and a replacement pressed into place. The idea created a lot of interest in horological circles, but it clearly didn?t catch on with other manufacturers.
By 1935 the Adie-Marlys Watch Company was trading as Crusader Watches, the link with Marlys apparently broken. It is probable that Crusader watch movements were sourced from Henry Sandoz & Fils, and assembled into special cases made by Dennison in the UK.

See Description