TAVANNES WATCH CO. Pocket Watch. c.1900. Locomotive Design

TAVANNES WATCH CO. Pocket Watch. c.1900. Locomotive Design

Unusual Tavannes Watch Co. (Cyma) pocket watch decorated with an attractive locomotive design. Dating from around 1910.

Silver plated case with a snap-on back and bezel. Both bezel, edge of back and centre section of case decorated with an attractive oak leaf design. The centre of the back bears an image of a steam locomotive in relief with the signature, "Holy F.S." and the Swiss registered design mark, "Deposé" below. Pendant and bow both formed in an ornate design. Scratched into the inside of the back is the original owners name and address. Fitted with original bevelled glass crystal (light surface wear). Case diameter (not including pendant) : 51mm. Case condition : 80%.

White enamel, double sunk dial with subsidiary seconds. Black numerals. Gilt hands. Dial signed, "Tavannes Watch Co.". Dial condition : 99% (very faint hairline).

Good quality, gilt, 19 ligne, 10 jewel Tavannes movement (unsigned). Breguet over-coil hairspring. Movement condition (appearance) : 90%. recently serviced. Time keeping : good.

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.

Inventory No. 412

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