W.W.I. 9ct Gold CYMA Military Type Wrist Watch. 1917
SOLD
Genuine W.W.I. period, solid 9ct gold, military type wrist watch manufactured by the quality Swiss maker "Cyma" and retailed by the high class London jewellers "Wilson & Gill". Dating from 1917. Watches such as these were designed with military use in mind and were available to troops as private purchase items.
Solid 9ct gold case with a snap-on bezel and hinged back. Fixed gold wire lugs. Inside back stamped with a full British 9ct gold import hallmark corresponding to the year 1917 and with the case maker's name, "Dennison Watch Case Co.". Fitted with an acrylic U.B. crystal. Case width (not including crown) : 32mm. Case condition : 85%.
White enamel military style dial. Luminous skeleton hands and numerals (luminous paint no longer active). Dial signed, "Wilson & Gill - 139-141 Regent Street, London. W.". Dial condition : 100%.
Nice quality, gilt, 15 jewel, Swiss made lever movement (unsigned but positively identified as being manufactured by Cyma). Movement condition (appearance) : 90%. Recently serviced. Time keeping : good.
Fitted with a black leather military
style strap.
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 the ‘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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