VINTAGE 1924 18KT GOLD OFFICERS TRENCH WATCH, LE-COULTRE MOVEMENT, FULL-SET ORIGINAL BOX & PAPERS

Description

VINTAGE 1924 18KT GOLD OFFICERS TRENCH WATCH, LE-COULTRE MOVEMENT, FULL-SET ORIGINAL BOX & PAPERS

vintage 1924 18kt gold officers trench watch, Le-Coultre movement, full-set original box & papers,.

This superb trench watch was manufactured in 1924 and retailed by Southend-On-Sea jeweller and watch-makers ‘R.A. Jones & Sons ltd’. The original sales receipt and warranty is included, dated the 15th. December 1924 and for the princely sum of six pounds fifteen shillings, which was a great deal of money.

Very unusually cased in 18kt gold, this would have no doubt belonged to a very wealthy officer. The case with coin-edge bezel measures 32mm across the bezel, not including the crown and 37mm tip-to-tip. The watch is very slim and cleverly designed to slip easily under the cuff of a jacket, very unusual as most trench watches are very thick and bulky. the case is in close to ‘as-new’ condition, there are no scrapes, dings or serious scratches of any description. There is some very, very fine scratching to the back from very gentle use over the years.

The fixed wire strap lugs are still in excellent condition. The coin edge bezel opens on a hinge as does the back. Both hinges are in excellent order and both bezel and back snap closed firmly as they should.

The inside of the back is stamped with London hallmarks for 1924 along with individual serial number 357220.

The porcelain enamel dial is absolutely beautiful and in very nice condition. There are no edge chips, cracks or hairlines what so ever. There is one small scratch on the subsidiary seconds circle which does not detract from the beauty of the dial. The radium luminous figures have lost some of their filling in places, but the blued steel cathedral hands retain all of theirs, though they have long since lost their luminosity.

Fixed wire strap lugs the leather strap, which has never been removed and is the original sewn-on example, with buckle marked ‘rolled-gold’.

The exceptional quality 15 jewel Geneve striped movement uses a Le-Coultre Ebauche and is stamped by the maker ‘Dreadnought‘.

The original onion winding crown is still present. The original glass crystal is still present and is in excellent condition with no scratches or chips.

Fitted with the original leather strap with brass buckle, which is still in fine condition and perfectly wearable. The watch is also complete with the original faux-sharkskin presentation box, the silk embossed interior signed ‘R.A Jones & Sons LTD’.

This is a very special watch, you will not find another in this condition. If you like early trench watches then this is the ultimate find. I would say that only one in a hundred were made in gold and in 18kt this is a rare beast indeed.