WWI Era Royal Red Cross Award Trench Watch with Borgel Waterproof Case SERVICED
WWI Era Royal Red Cross Award Trench Watch w/ Borgel Waterproof Case - SERVICED. World War I saw the emergence of the wristwatch as a necessary addition to combat, not just a novelty worn by foppish European officers. Prior to this, wristwatches were worn primarily by women. Legend has it that the need to know what time it was at any instant forced one young German officer to tie his pocket watch to his wrist with cloth.
From that awkward attempt, wire lugs were welded on small pocket watches, through which pigskin straps were laced. In addition to being an early "wristlet" probably made for the Great War effort, this extraordinary presentation timepiece happens to be housed in an early waterproof "Borgel" sterling case. Borgel was decades ahead of wristwatch development with his water-proof watch case design. The back of the case is solid: gently pull the spring loaded split stem and pumpkin crown, and one can unscrew the entire movement through the front of the watch. It is a brilliant design that re-emerged years later as a "futuristic" watch design.
These cases are exceedingly rare and most desirable. Its solid porcelain dial, which is perfect and original, is ice-cream white and exquisite; as are its luminous, stylized Arabic numerals with a micro-graduated sub-seconds register, stained-glass hands and original "pumpkin" crown. 38mm lug-to-lug and 34mm in diameter, the sterling case has a poignant inscription: Presented by Royal Red Cross Society/to/Lieut. Beckett/in appreciation of valuable service voluntarily given/1919. The hand-engraving work of the inscription is a fine as we've seen.Delicate and gifted; the hand that engraved this watch was that of an artist. Beckett after "The Great War" has been lost to history. All that remains of his service to the war effort of the Royal Red Cross very well may be this timepiece.
We've taken the liberty of cleaning, oiling and calibrating the watch so that one may wear it as a dependable timepiece. Please notice the two-part cordovan watch strap, which is our own faithful rendition of an original World War I watch strap, complete with a sterling silver "hand wrought" buckle. Often we're asked what constitutes a first tier gentlemen's work of wrist art; something that belongs on the wrist of someone equally special. This watch is such an example. Featured as Forbes magazine's "Best of the Web" honoree consecutively since 2000 for timepieces, we're committed to bringing the best, the rarest, the cleanest examples of old wrist and pocket watches to clients around the world.
TERMS OF SALE: We take great pride in our images and item descriptions and are careful to note as much about an item as we can. If you have a question or would like to see the image of an item at another angle, we are happy to accommodate you. Please check our feedback; we try to be as accommodating as possible. We invite you to find out more about us by clicking on our ME page! The item "WWI Era Royal Red Cross Award Trench Watch with Borgel Waterproof Case SERVICED" is in sale since Sunday, November 26, 2017.This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Watches, Parts & Accessories\Wristwatches". The seller is "strickland_vintage_watches" and is located in Tampa, Florida. This item can be shipped worldwide. Swiss