Cyma "New York Life" Advertising Pocket Watch. C.1910

SOLD

Apologies for the poor quality of this picture.

Gun metal, snap back case. Width : 50 mm. White metal bow and crown.
Case condition : 80% (Minor oxidization).

Glass crystal.

Gilt, stem wind, 5 jewel lever movement (signed CYMA). Movement condition : 90%. Time Keeping : Runs strongly but gains approx. 10 minutes a day.

White enamel dial with subsidiary seconds. Black letters in place of numerals, spelling out "NEW YORK LIFE". Blue steel hands. Dial condition : 100%.

New York Life is an old established insurance company, which was founded around 1845.

Interesting collectors piece.

In 1871 Frédéric Henri Sandoz formed the watch making company, Henri Sandoz & Co in Le Locle, Switzerland. Around 1890 he moved to the nearby town of Tavannes and started a new company, Tavannes Watch Co which manufactured a wide range of timepieces from basic watches to chronographs. In 1892 Sandoz joined forces with Schwob Frères and Co. of La Chaux-de-Fonds who manufactured watches under various trade names including, ‘Alpine’, ‘Hermosa’, ‘Meridian’ and ‘New Haven’. As well as ‘Tavannes Watch Co’, the new company also produced watches named, ‘Chronomètre Civil’, ‘TWC’ 'Trusty' and ‘CYMA’. The company expanded and by 1905 they were producing 1000 watches per day. In the 1930s Tavannes-Cyma claimed to be Switzerland's largest supplier of precision watches and by 1938, they employed around 2000 staff and their output reached approximately 4000. By this time, as well as their ‘CYMA’ brand, their trade names also included, ‘TACY’, ‘AMYC’ and ‘Bijou’. After 1957, the company no longer manufactured movements, but fitted their watches with those produced by ETA. The company continued until 1966 when its name was purchased by Chronos Holding.

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