Art deco- watches and beyond

agee · Dec 8, 2018

1923 Waltham in a 14k White Gold Filled Case with original strap-just as I found it
135,000 were produced by Waltham

In the same lot I found this one-to me the essence of Art Deco Style-probably worn at some point by a "Dandy"
1930's Longines with Platinum Case (10% Iridium), White Gold + Diamond Indices with Diamond Numerals-42 mm long
Quick picture is from the day I found it with a Speidel Bracelet on it
Picking it up next week after a cleaning from my watch man -will put a leather strap on
Watch man with 40 years experience said he has only seen 3 others like it

Just Livin · Dec 8, 2018

Love this one.
Bought recently from OF forum

Syrte · Dec 9, 2018

Art deco dials.

Lbreak · Dec 9, 2018

where do you guys get these art deco pieces from? ebay?

Syrte · Dec 9, 2018

And for the record— a chronograph with insane art deco lugs offered at Phillips auction. Picture by Instagram user @Weezergallery.

Syrte · Dec 9, 2018

Lbreak
where do you guys get these art deco pieces from? ebay?

Hi Lbreak, ha ha— with the enormous amounts of cash being poured into vintage watches by so many people now, knowledge is power. People who’ve spent hours and years in research and learning would be shooting themselves in the foot if they gave away sources and secrets on a forum to the entire world.
Best regards

Lbreak · Dec 9, 2018

Syrte
Hi Lbreak, ha ha— with the enormous amounts of cash being poured into vintage watches by so many people now, knowledge is power. People who’ve spent hours and years in research and learning would be shooting themselves in the foot if they gave away sources and secrets on a forum to the entire world.
Best regards

errrrm alright... I guess you are right... apologies.

Syrte · Dec 9, 2018

Lbreak
errrrm alright... I guess you are right... apologies.

No offense taken, and no offense intended either by the way. I’m sure if you keep your eyes open and do some homework as so many others have, you will find your rewards.
First and if you haven’t seen it, a recommended read is @ConElPueblo’s wonderful sticky thread called «learn how to fish ».
Best regards

allwoundup · Dec 9, 2018

S.F.L. (Societe Francaise Longines)....I am guessing circa mid- to late-1930s. I know very little about S.F.L. other than it was Longines agent in France for a number of years beginning in the early-mid 1930s. Longines watches distributed by S.F.L. are marked "Longines" on the dial. S.F.L. apparently also marketed watches of its own design, which are marked "S.F.L." on the dial, such as this example. The case is stainless steel....the body of the watch measures 13.5mm x 17.5, lug-to-lug 23.5mm, strap width is 9mm. I would welcome any additional info anyone might have about S.F.L. or thoughts about the movement's manufacturer. Cheers

X350 XJR · Dec 9, 2018

Syrte · Dec 9, 2018

X350 XJR

Oooooooooh..... how long have you had this one? So nice ! Dibs!

bubba48 · Dec 10, 2018

allwoundup
S.F.L. (Societe Francaise Longines)....I am guessing circa mid- to late-1930s. I know very little about S.F.L. other than it was Longines agent in France for a number of years beginning in the early-mid 1930s. Longines watches distributed by S.F.L. are marked "Longines" on the dial. S.F.L. apparently also marketed watches of its own design, which are marked "S.F.L." on the dial, such as this example. The case is stainless steel....the body of the watch measures 13.5mm x 17.5, lug-to-lug 23.5mm, strap width is 9mm. I would welcome any additional info anyone might have about S.F.L. or thoughts about the movement's manufacturer. Cheers

Very very nice watch.
This is mine

And here below some info from Longines

"Dear Xxxxxx,

Thank you for your message of end of March.
For your information, I do agree that SFL means Société Française Longines which was your agent in France for many years. We have delivered them many Longines watches but also Longines movements. They were then able to produced the case and the strap under license from Longines.
In this case, the name Longines was on the dial.
On the pictures you have sent me, we can see the watch is made by SFL, under their name. In addition, our chief watchmaker confirms the movement is not made by Longines.
So as far we do suppose SFL made their own production but we can’t find any archives in Longines to prove it.
If I find something in the near future, I will let you know.
I hope this information will be of help to you and remain at your entire disposal for any further information you may need.

Best regards,
Jennifer Bochud
Museum Curator"

Archer · Dec 10, 2018

rkman11
Thanks to @JimInOz for the heads up - sharing my new Vulcain with crazy patina and even crazier lugs here!

Lugs along with the case on that Vulcain reminded me of this, which resides with it's mate in my living room...

allwoundup · Dec 10, 2018

Unknown (at the moment) manufacturer....most likely Swiss....predating the mid-1920s. The clam shell case is 0.925 silver, and is marked on the interior with a "standing bear with raised paws", which was the Swiss hallmark used to denote high silver purity between end of 1880 and 1933. Thereafter, the hallmark was changed to a grouse. I would be curious to know why the Swiss went to the bother to change from bear to grouse. The power of the "grouse lobby" perhaps?

In the mid-1920s, the Swiss introduced the system of "Poincon de Maitre" (literally "Punch of The Master"), more commonly known as the "Collective Responsibility Mark" to identify the actual maker of watch cases. As this watch lacks such a mark, I am assuming it predates the mid-1920s.

The case measures 26.3mm wide, 34.5mm lug-to-lug, and the lug width is a little over 20mm. The crystal is glass, an rather scratched.

The dial is likely a redial, and bears no indication as to the watch's manufacturer. Nor does the bottom of the movement have any marks indicating who might have manufactured it. When I send this piece off to my watchmaker for service, and he removes the dial, the watch's manufacturer might be revealed. In the interim, I would welcome any insights/observations from fellow OF members. Cheers

X350 XJR · Dec 10, 2018

Syrte
Oooooooooh..... how long have you had this one? So nice ! Dibs!

Not a new addition, probably had this one for at least ten years, probably longer.

Syrte · Dec 10, 2018

X350 XJR
Not a new addition, probably had this one for at least ten years, probably longer.

Lucky you, I hope you wear it!

Helvetia History · Dec 11, 2018

Rose gold stepped case Helvetia (by NK Co), hallmarked for 1948.

Syrte · Dec 11, 2018

Another art deco style watch- but made recently from reclaimed ebony and bronze.... aptly named « Asmara » in tribute to a hard to reach and far away place in Africa where art deco has been conserved in a time capsule since the 1930s. I wish I could see that place, for the sake of history, even though the architecture was brought by Italian colonizers at a time Italy wasn’t exactly a democracy.
The artisan watch is an unsolicited plug for @Santecastignaniwatch (Sante is a collector, a humanist and a respected member of the Italian forum Orologi e Passioni).
Stay tuned for pictures of Asmara, capital of Eritrea- the only place in Africa where you will find capuccino and mussolini-era architecture.

Syrte · Dec 11, 2018

A very

allwoundup
S.F.L. (Societe Francaise Longines)....I am guessing circa mid- to late-1930s. I know very little about S.F.L. other than it was Longines agent in France for a number of years beginning in the early-mid 1930s. Longines watches distributed by S.F.L. are marked "Longines" on the dial. S.F.L. apparently also marketed watches of its own design, which are marked "S.F.L." on the dial, such as this example.

Very nice and interesting watch, agree with @bubba48 - and I really like yours too!

On a separate note, here are some pictures of Asmara Eritrea. Guess some of it looks like so called streamline art deco (and I’m not even posting the stuff that’s not art deco but «futuristic» or «modernist »).

warrydog · Dec 13, 2018

Archer
Lugs along with the case on that Vulcain reminded me of this, which resides with it's mate in my living room...

Is that a speaker? please tell us more

Art deco- watches and beyond

agee

Just Livin

Syrte

Lbreak

Syrte

Syrte

Lbreak

Syrte

allwoundup

X350 XJR

Syrte

bubba48

Archer

allwoundup

X350 XJR

Syrte

Helvetia History

Syrte

Syrte

warrydog

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