The movement is stamped "AXA" denoting the watch was made for export. Since the late 19th century, when society experienced continuously increasing mobility, watchmakers were challenged to inven.w mechanisms to reflect the fact that the globe is divided up into 24 time zones, each representing 15 degrees of longitude starting from the Greenwich Meridian. To make use of this feature, the bezel is first rotated so that a location in the same time zone as the clock is at 12 o'clock. When the local time is set on the main dial, the outer day/night ring can be used to tell the time at any of the locations engraved on the bezel. This ingenious mechanism has been invented and patented by Louis Cottier, a celebrated watchmaker from Geneva who has worked closely with Geneva's most renowned watch manufacturers such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Vacheron Constantin and Agassiz for example. This "World Time" system was invented around 1935 by Louis Cottier (1894-1966), famous independent watchmaker in Carouge, near Geneva; inventor of several complications applied to both pocket and wristwatches. Cottier delivered a total of around 455 world time movements, both for pocket and wristwatches, to renowned Genevan manufactures; most of them to Patek Philippe, few to Agassiz and very few to Rolex and Vacheron Constantin. 14K pink gold, with teardrop lugs (Ø 30 mm.); 14K yellow or pink gold, with hooded down-turned lugs (Ø 32 mm.). Both models with 24-hour revolving dial, for diurnal (day-time) an.cturnal (night-time) hours, and outer graduation bearing the names of 31, 35 or 41 cities in the World. The first series bears a striking resemblance with Patek Philippe's first serially produced world time wristwatch, reference 1415. Both models share a similar case, dial and even the design of the gold "compass" hands especially made by hand by Cottier himself. While the present watch does not feature a quick setting system for the city ring (in case of travel to another time zone), the ring can be very easily adjusted by opening the case, a simple and convenient solution to the problem. Agassiz Watch Co. SA, Saint-Imier and Geneva The company was founded in 1876. In 1832, Auguste Agassiz, brother of the eminent geologist Louis Agassiz, began a horological business as a wholesaler in Saint-Imier. The manufacture was in fact really founded by his son an.t until 1876, after a constructive market research. The firm was awarded the Gold Medal at the Paris Exhibition in 1889 and in 1910, received the highest distinction in Brussels. The company produced these watches for Tiffany. During the 1940's and at the beginning of the 1950's, Agassiz produced with Louis Cottier few World Time wrist and pocket watches. At the request of a group of citizens of Geneva who wanted to express their thanks to the Allies at the end of the Second World War, Louis Cottier produced for Agassiz four World Time dress watches in the second part of the year 1945, with gold and enamel cases and polychrome cloisonné enamel dials - now known as "Victory" watches -, especially made for the four commanders of the Allied forces: - No. 44 495, for Harry S. Truman, President of the United States of America (unknown localisation). - No. 44 496, for Winston Spencer Churchill, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (Sotheby's, London, July 15, 1998, "The Political sale", lot 96, sold for the amount of GBA£ A... A....-; Sotheby's, London, September 22, 2015, lot 75, sold for the amount of GBA£ 485 000.-). - No. 44 497, for Charles de Gaulle, Président du Gouvernement de la République française (Antiquorum, Geneva, October 14, 1990, lot 92, sold for the amount of CHF 126 500.-). - No. 44 498, for Joseph Stalin, Marshall of USSR (unknown localisation). Cottier-Agassiz World Time Wristwatches In fact, very few are known (11 examples are listed from the last 30 years on international auction market): 14K pink gold case with teardrop lugs; 31 cities - No. 306 044 Christies', Geneva, November 14, 2016, lot 392, sold for the amount of CHF 16 250. - No. 307 963 (made for Mauboussin, Paris an.w York, later retailed by Trabert & Hoeffer, Inc, New York, Palm Beach, Beverly Hills, Atlantic City and Chicago) Antiquorum, Hong Kong, June 27, 2015, lot 689, sold for the amount of HKD 162 500. - No. 307 964 Antiquorum, Geneva, October 15, 1989, lot 125, unsold (Estimate: CHF 25 000.- / 30 000.-) Antiquorum, Geneva, October 14, 2007, lot 458, sold for the amount of CHF 17 700. (dial now restored) - No. 307 965 Christies', Geneva, November 14, 2005, lot 392, sold for the amount of CHF 13 200. Sotheby's, New York, December 2015, lot 76, sold for the amount of USD 8 750.- Antiquorum, Hong Kong, October 27, 2018, lot A... (the present watch; dial now restored) 14K yellow or pink gold case with hooded down-turned lugs; 31 or 35 or 41 cities - No. 10 111 (pink gold; 31 cities; lugs set with diamonds and rubies) Sotheby's, London, September 22, 2015, lot 122, sold for the amount of GBA£ 10 625. - No. 4 554 024 (yellow gold; 35 cities) Antiquorum, New York, December 7, 1988, lot 132 (estimation: USD 20 000.- / 25 000.-) - No. 4 554 027 (yellow gold; 35 cities) Sotheby's, New York, April 28, 2009, lot 20, sold for the amount of USD 8 750. - No. 4 624 579 (yellow gold; 41 cities) Christie's, New York, April 24, 2008, lot 178, sold for the amount of USD 15 000. Stephen "Steve" Bogoff Antiques, Mill Valley, CA, available for the amount of USD 27 500. - No. 4 624 580 (yellow gold; 41 cities) Antiquorum, Geneva, May 13, 2007, lot 504, sold for the amount of CHF 16 520.- - No. 4 841 539 (yellow gold; 31 cities) Christie's, London, June 10, 1998, lot 176, sold for the amount of GBA£ 5 520.Antiquorum, Hong Kong, June 10, 1993, lot 342, sold for the amount of HKD 63 250. - Unreferenced number (pink gold; 31 cities; with a contemporary gold bracelet) - Sotheby's, New York, June 10, 2013, lot 205, sold for the amount of USD 11 250.