A First World War "Officers" high grade Chronograph Wristwatch C.1917.

Please quote Stock # 2337

A First World War "Officers" high grade, Swiss made Vintage "One Button" Chronograph Wristwatch, in Sterling Silver, C.1917.

The classic white enamel dial with subsidiary seconds dial & minutes recording dial. This wonderful enamel dial is in perfect condition, the old luminous paint had slowly disintegrated, the residue having been removed and repainted by my specialist restorers, with new luminous paint as too are the original blued steel luminous hands.

The centre sweep seconds hand operated by a single button within the winder.

The Sterling Silver case with hinged lugs, Hallmarked with British Import Hallmarks for the year 1917.

The fully Jeweled Swiss made Lever movement is excellent and original condition.

British troops training.

As an alternative to the official pocket watches, these early wristwatches were not fashion items but pieces of vital military equipment, purchased privately, from high quality British County Jewelers by serving officers during the Great War.

With the changing face of warfare on land sea and air, more accurate and sophisticated timepieces were required by the officers of the day.

There were no shortcuts to achieving the level of accuracy and reliability required by the military, such timepieces could only be supplied relying on the finest Swiss craftsmanship and engineering.

This is just such an example, the very finest quality that the Swiss watch industry could supply.

Vintage Wristwatches from this most interesting and traumatic period of history are very difficult to find in good condition, especially so when it comes to complicated, fine examples such as this magnificent chronograph.

The classic early case design constructed in solid Silver, is of the highest quality and has the advantage of beautifully detailed hinged lugs, only to be found on the finest examples. British Import Hallmarking, another distinct advantage, dating the watch to exactly 1917.

The early "one button" facility, operating the chronograph mechanism through the winder, the button also winding and setting the hands.

One push to start the centre sweep seconds hand, once more to stop it and one more push to set the centre second hand to zero. The winder is pulled out to the hand set position to set the time and returned to wind the movement.

In later chronographs two buttons either side of the winder replaced this early "one button" design.

For period authenticity the strap is of a classic brown calf, a replica of the First World War "Officers" straps first used in the trenches.

An extremely rare and beautiful Chronograph of the highest quality, in superb and original condition.

Stock # 2337 -- Sterling Silver -- Case Diameter: 34mm -- Date: C.1917 -- Price: £3,950.00