About this lot

Description

the white dial, unsigned, but marked 'Gibson Ltd Belfast' for the retailer, with black Roman numerals, blued spade hands, subsidiary seconds register and chemin de fer chapter ring, the signed mechanical crown wind movement number 71792 +31457 Peerless with pumpkin shaped winder and hand setting button at 11 o'clock, the gunmetal one piece case by François Borgel, number 442375, stamped 'ACIER', with threaded inner to take the movement housing

Footnote: Other notes: François Borgel started making watch cases at the end of the 19th century from his workshops in Geneva and in 1891 he patented the screw down watch case design that bears his name today, the 'Borgel Case'. The Borgel case was first used for pocket watches before being widely used during the First World War for wristwatches. A watch with a Borgel case was significantly more expensive than one in an ordinary case, but it was the best available at the time for life in the trenches and military men rarely economised on kit on which their life depended. The case back and middle part are in one piece, so there is no opening at the back. The front opening of the case is thickened and threaded internally with a fine thread. The movement, complete with dial and hands, is mounted in an externally threaded carrier ring, and the bezel carrying the crystal is mounted onto the end of this carrier ring. The assembly of carrier ring with movement, dial, hands, bezel and crystal is then screwed into the case from the front with the crown and spring loaded stem fully retracted. Borgel cases are now rare and are much sought after by collectors.

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