Posted 12 years ago
newmood
(2 items)
I picked up this chronometer in Tarsus, Turkey. For you history buffs this is the town on the Mediterranean coast where Cleopatra rendezvoused with Mark Antony and also the birthplace of Paul the Apostle. I bought the watch because I had never seen one like it before and its one of those things that you got to have. I don't know a thing about other than what I was told by a watch repairman. It is a minute repeater, sounds the time down to the minute with different chimes. It has 5 dials, days of month-31, months, days of week, seconds and the main staff has 4 hands. Months and days appear to be in French abbreviations: lun, mar, mer, jeu, ven, sam and dim for the days. It also appears to have been gold plated at one time but the plating has long vanished. Other than above, I know nothing about this watch. It is just an interesting piece. If anyone has more information on the watch please share.
Hello newmood, welcome to CW! Your watch also has a Moon Phase indicator above 6 O'clock and I believe, single button chronograph (stop watch) function, as there are two extra hands on the main dial. I am not an expert but the movement should be Swiss circa 1900. A lot of these watches were not signed on the dial and movement. I suspect the crystal back that reveals the complicity of the movement is probably a later modification to the case back. Very nice piece and thank you for sharing.
George
To add to the mystery - I have a watch that has a similar face. It does have a manufacture mark, but have been unable to find it. My watch was given to me by my Grandfather around 1975, who in turn got it from his Mother, who recieved it as a gift from the Graf Spee, who she attended to as his personal nurse - so it mine originated in Germany.
If anyone recognizes the manufacting mark, let me know. Thanks!