This world time system was invented by Louis Cottier and produced for Patek Philippe, Rolex, Vacheron Constantin and Agassiz.Agassiz Watch Co. S. A., Saint-Imier and GenevaThe 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 and not until 1876, after a constructive market research. The company specialised in the production of high quality watches. Starting from regular 19''' watch movements, a new calibre was soon designed, smaller in diameter and as slim as possible with respect to the technical rquirements for good timekeeping. Later, to meet the request of wholesalers, the manufacture began to design entirely new movements and even thinner: first of 17'''- 24/12th, and later of 20/12th, and 17/12th, producing very slim watches, highly praised by their demanding customers. Consequently, the Agassiz Factory arranged a technical agreement with Touchon & Co., from Geneva, already specialised in the production of very thin movements. A few years later, the merging of the two companies was dcided and the new firm successfully launched on the market extra slim watches of 16 1/2'''- 17/12th, 15/12th, 10/12th, and even of10'''- 10/12. This latter movement, fitted in its case, could be concealed into a 20 dollars coin and 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. In 1946 four World Time watches were commissioned from Agassiz, by the City of Geneva, to be presented to each of the Heads of States of the World War II Allied Forces.