Help identifying pocket watch
Discussion
I was at my grannies today, and the youngest started playing with this beauty...
Apparently her dad, whilst liberating Germany during WWII, swapped a German Chap a jar of cocoa for this watch.
(He also claims to have slept in a bank vault one night, using Reichsmarks as a pillow.
It has 1931 scratched into the inside of the case, and Hans something (presumably the German chaps name) inside.
Can't see any makers marks, but the decoration is very good.
Most remarkably, it still runs!!
Does anyone have any idea of its origins?
It's marked galonne, which I believe means gold plated, and the movement has adjusters for 'fast' and 'slow' in English... So a watch from Germany, with French and English markings. Hmm.
Apparently her dad, whilst liberating Germany during WWII, swapped a German Chap a jar of cocoa for this watch.
(He also claims to have slept in a bank vault one night, using Reichsmarks as a pillow.
It has 1931 scratched into the inside of the case, and Hans something (presumably the German chaps name) inside.
Can't see any makers marks, but the decoration is very good.
Most remarkably, it still runs!!
Does anyone have any idea of its origins?
It's marked galonne, which I believe means gold plated, and the movement has adjusters for 'fast' and 'slow' in English... So a watch from Germany, with French and English markings. Hmm.
Edited by shortar53 on Sunday 5th February 17:02
Bit of an odd one that.
The movement is very decorated, yet isn't highly jewelled. I can see only one jewel on the balance. This is a very cheap and cheerful movement.
The size is typical for a ladies watch, yet its engraved with the name Hans.
Looks like 80% silver (marked 0.800) but it's also stamped "Metal" (usually meaning non-precious metal).
I wonder if it was a practice piece produced by a watchmaker learning to decorate movements.
Try the vintage forum at watchuseek. You'll get far better answers than my confused babblings.
The movement is very decorated, yet isn't highly jewelled. I can see only one jewel on the balance. This is a very cheap and cheerful movement.
The size is typical for a ladies watch, yet its engraved with the name Hans.
Looks like 80% silver (marked 0.800) but it's also stamped "Metal" (usually meaning non-precious metal).
I wonder if it was a practice piece produced by a watchmaker learning to decorate movements.
Try the vintage forum at watchuseek. You'll get far better answers than my confused babblings.
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