Rare Inter War Period Lancashire Fusiliers Silver Cased Full Hunter Braille Wristwatch By Tavannes Watch Co. c1937

Here on offer is a very rare inter war period Lancashire Fusiliers silver cased full hunter braille wristwatch by Tavannes c1937.

The Swiss full hunter case is made from 925 grade silver and it has a sprung front cover that is released by a button located on the edge of the case at the number “6” position.

The top of the cover has been fitted with a beautiful silver and enamel badge for the Lancashire Fusiliers regiment.

Brail wristwatches were expensive in their day so possibly a veteran WW1 officer of that regiment would have worn this example.

Braille watches really didn’t appear until towards the end of the first world war, so may men came home blind from gas attacks and shell fragments.

It was Sir Arthur Pearson and his work with the war blind that introduced these men to braille watches. He rightly believed that blind war veterans could have a good standard of living, return to work and have careers.

Inside the top cover it is stamped with the details:

SWISS MADE

.925

05244 (the case number)
14

S.F.C.

This mark of S.F.C was registered in Edinburgh on 1 August 1926 in the name of Schwob Frères & Co. Ltd. S.A. of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
It is strange that a Swiss address is given, registrants had to have a UK address for obvious reasons – where to send invoices, if no other reason.
The Edinburgh book of registrations indicates that a similar SFC mark was registered by Robert Pringle & Sons, so it seems that the Robert Pringle company was acting as UK assay agents for Schwob Frères, but that Schwob wanted to have their own distinctive sponsor's mark so Pringle registered this mark in their name. In the event of any problem or dispute, Pringle in the UK would be the responsible party.

Schwob Frères & Co. registered its name in Switzerland in 1881 for watch movements and cases. The company worked in close cooperation with the Tavannes Watch Company.

The Tavannes Watch Company was founded on 25 September 1895 as a public limited company. The capital of 360,000 francs of the company was jointly provided by two companies of La Chaux-de-Fonds; Schwöb Frères et Cie, founded by Théodore Schwöb, and Schwöb et Cie, founded by Joseph Schwöb. Henri Sandoz was appointed director.

Schwöb Frères had extensive contacts for sales and marketing which was used to sell the products of the new company. The brand Cyma was created for this purpose.

The Sandoz brand continues to this day used by at least four different companies around the world. The brand Cyma also continues to this day. The brand Tavannes has been resuscitated. Schwöb Frères has disappeared completely.

Inside the back cover it has the same set of marks, with the addition of British import silver marks, being a double block letter “F” inverted for the assay office of Glasgow and the date letter “O” for the year 1937.

Both covers also have a number of watch repairers marks/numbers, where it has been serviced/repaired during its life.

The full hunter case is made without a bezel and glass to allow the time to be read by feel.

The perfect white enamel dial face is set with raised dots next to the Arabic numbers and each quarter has been marked by two raised dots.

It is also fitted with a strong pair of gilt hands.

The watch has 15-jewelled patented mechanical keyless movement and is marked TAVANNES WATCH CO, SWISS MADE, ADJUSTED and is numbered 314987.

It has been cleaned and serviced and runs really well keeping good time.

It has also fitted with a new leather strap and comes with a strong modern burgundy leatherette case.

The watch itself is 1.3” (3.3cm) diameter and weighs 34g.

This is an incredibly rare watch with a military connection to the Lancashire Fusiliers that is in full working order with no signs of damage, just some slight tarnishing to the silver.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

Please see my TERMS OF BUSINESS regarding Deliver Charges and Insurance regarding additional insurance cover, should you require it, BEFORE the item is dispatched.

The responsibility lies with the customer to check with your Customs restrictions that this item can be imported into your country.

Code: 50777