Any information on a 1914 military pocket watch please

hi
all I have this pocket watch that has the IWC patent number on the movement .
It's a silver case dated 1914 I believe . Was wondering if anyone has any
information they could share on it. Regards, David Young

Hi David,

this is a standard to sub-standard IWC pocket watch, sold from IWC to Stauffer
& Co and from there via Goldsmiths & Silversmiths to the British Government as
simple service watch.

More info needs info on case and mvmt No.

Regards Thomas

Hello David,

The pocket watches made by IWC for WW I were predominantly manufactured for
the American Corps of Engineers and issued by Ulysse Nardin.

However the British army used Swiss pocket watches of several Swiss brands,
but not in large numbers. In the reference book of Konrad Knirim a similar
watch (but made by Omega) is depicted. The broad arrow was applied in many
different ways on the dial and/or case back.

You have a cal. 57 of 1913/'14. It might have been in service for the
British.The patent number with Swiss cross was usual for different IWC
calibres at that time. The dial looks very 'fresh' to me. Usually the dials
were loaded wih radium containing paint as luminescent material, highly
radioactive. If this is the original dial, the lume has been removed without
any dammage, which on turn is unusual.

Regards,

Adrian,

(alwaysiwc).

Hi Thomas and Adria,

Thank your for the reply,

The dial does look like it has ner had lume, so I am unsure 100% on the dial,
but its all seems to fit correctly but I do agree with you.

Ive had a mass of military pocket watch before and Im quite up on military
watches. What interested me was the Borgel silver case and IWC movement.

I suppose I was wondering if these have been seen before beacuse for me its
completely new. Sub standard for an IWC movement but quite a rare find I
thought.

Case back is 670796 , Borel stamped silver case dated 1914 I believe , +55231
on movement , +31457, and serial 580464 , S&co Peerless

Thank you for the help,

Regards, David

It was common practice back then for many makers pocket watch movements to be
sold with case work from others.

IWC at this time made no cases, but bougth them in. The serial is an IWC case
serial and correct.

IWC in WW I did not sell many watches to the British Armed Forces, especially
not sub-standard. Thad had to do with a shortage of foreign currency, so that
English makes like Williamson were preferred.

But there have been chronometer watches (C.W.) for the Royal Navy and
chronometer rated RA watches supplied to the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich.

Regards

Th. Koenig