Only Online Auction

Geneva, Sep 22, 2021

LOT 88

International Watch Company, IWC
Military pocket watch, made for the Corps of Engineers, U.S.A.; silver

CHF 600 - 1,200

EUR 600 - 1,150 / USD 700 - 1,350 / HKD 5,200 - 10,300

TO BE SOLD WITHOUT RESERVE

Sold: CHF 725

Silver (0.800), open-face, keyless-winding, round-shaped, military pocket watch, with subsidiary seconds at 6, made for the Corps of Engineers, U.S.A.

Case-back engraved with the mention “Property of / Corps of Engineers / U.S.A. / No. 5380”.

Contemporary “Ulysse Nardin / Locle & Genève”, white enamel dial with suspended Arabic numerals; blued steel skeleton hands.

Movement 18’’’, gilded brass, going barrel, gold screwed-chatons (setting), straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensated balance with gold poising screws and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve, polished steel index-regulator with swan-neck spring and micrometric screw.


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good
Case: 3-7-9-12

Good

Oxidized

Scratched

Worn
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-28-01-04

Good

Replacements

HANDS Original

HANDS Later

Brand International Watch Co.

Model made for the Corps of Engineers, U.S.A.

Year circa 1918

Movement No. 687 444

Case No. 743 182 (by Huguenin Frères, Le Locle)

Material silver

Diameter 53 mm.

Caliber “H 6”, 18’’’, straight-line lever escapement

Weight 97.4 gr. (approx.)

Signature dial, case and movement

Notes

Movement based on the Swiss invention patent No. 55 231, delivered on March 28, 1911, to Uhrenfabrik von J. Rauschenbach’s Erben, vormals International Watch Co., Schaffhausen, for a “Zifferblattbefestigungsvorrichtung” (Dial fixing device).

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Corps of Engineers, U.S.A.

In 1918, several Swiss horological manufacturers (Vacheron Constantin, IWC, Ulysse Nardin, etc.) started the production of pocket watches, with or without chronograph, intended for the “Corps of Engineers” of the United States Army. Following the U.S. entry into the war, in 1917, the Americans set up a purchasing office for equipment for their expeditionary forces, “The American Expeditionary Forces”, which ordered several thousand watches until 1920. Especially designed for engineers, they are made of stainless silver, withstand temperature differences and have luminescent numerals and hands.

CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION FOR BUYERS

The purchase price payable by a buyer will be the sum of the final bid price plus the buyer’s premium, together with any applicable sales or compensating use tax. In addition to the hammer price, the buyer’s premium is payable as follows: 25% of the hammer price on each lot.

Important notice – Special conditions Please look carefully at all the photos as they are an integral part of the description. Any defect not mentioned in the descriptions but visible on the photos will be considered as described and cannot lead to any claim. The dimensions are given as an indication and may slightly differ from the measures mentioned by the manufacturers especially for contemporary watches. The photos are not retouched. Colors may differ from reality. For timepieces, we guarantee neither the functioning nor the precision of the movement, nor the water-resistance of the case. In addition, please note that movements, parts of mechanisms or cases may be incomplete. The lots are sold “as is”, described to the best of our knowledge and cannot be returned. Once the online bid is placed by the bidder, it cannot be cancelled.