Important Collectors’ Wristwatches Po...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 22, 1995

LOT 8

Glycine "Automatic", circa 1931. Fine waterproof, self-winding, stainless steel " Staybrite" military wristwatch.

CHF 400 - 500

USD 300 - 350

Sold: CHF 1,035

C. polished, satined, screwed back. D. mat silver with radiumed Arabic numerals + auxiliary seconds dial. "Bâton" radiumed hands. M. 113/ 4 " ' rhodiumed, 17 jewels, lever escapement, monometallic balance, antishock system, selfcompensating flat balance-spring. Dial and movement signed. In excellent condition. Diam. 31 mm.


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Notes

Glycine watch with automatic winding caliber 20 was developed by Eugène Meylan on the basis of an 8.75 line movement and patented in 1931. The watch, which follows the principle developed by Harwood, of a segmented swinging mass in the center of the movement, was meant to replace watches with "roll winding" such as the Rolls. The new feature of this movement was that the automatic winding and the actual movement could be completely separated from each other with Base without affecting the working of the movement. This separation was intended to make repair simpler. In the Glycine, the automatic winding mechanism (swinging weight, mounting, reduction drive) was attached to a steel ring. The movement was set into this from the front, which in itself connected it to the automatic winding mechanism. The motion of the swinging weight is limited by shock springs, and the winding works in only one direction. The Glycine's hands are set via the stem; it is wound only by the swinging weight.