Hi. I bought this on the bay on a buy it now for under 30 quid. The title and description and photo's from the seller were a bit blurry so I took a punt and bought it thinking that there's gotta be a good maker under the bonnet. I mean ICI wouldn't be stingy, would they. I love the watch but did G N Jefcoat get a cheap watch for his 20yrs service back in 1948. Nothing on the face so off comes the stainless steel back, and on the movement it say's Swiss Made 15 jewels and no makers name!! Am I missing something here, wouldn't they have bought him a decent watch for his service, some of it through the second world war!! Engraved on the case back: Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd, Presented to G N Jefcoat for 20yrs service, 1948. Any advice appreciated on an ID for the movement. Case measures approx. 30mm across. Joe.
Would ICI have stiffed this guy in 1948? When the entire country was utterly broke; with full rationing still in force from the war; with a push to "make British; buy British" .... yeah, they probably would have.
Guess it's better 'n an 'at-a-boy. Did Imperial acquire a wholesale lot of watches pre-engraved on their backs except for name and year which was added as needed? It would appear so.
There doesn't seem to be a makers name but I'm wondering if it might be a BRAC calibre? Is there anything written on the plate close to the balance? Or a symbol? Cheers, Chris
Hi, Chris. There is a symbol on the movement at approx. the 10 o'clock position near to the top left jewel, is this what you mean?? Joe.
I see what you mean but can't quite make it out. There were a lot of these ebauche makers. Here's one list. You can usually find out what calibre you have but it's just the people who made the movement. Cheers, Chris
Better than a pencil and pen set and a lapel pin I got for twenty years for a city I use to worked for.
Very True. I am beginning to wonder if it has had at sometime a movement changed. But I still love it. Apologies for the pencil & pen set, have you now retired? Joe.
Hi, Chris. Thanks for the list, I didn't know about this. What does ebauche makers actually mean? Joe.
The watch has a bog stock 15-jewel, 10 1/2 ligne, Swiss, A Schild 984 movement. I worked for a major Canadian retail jeweller for a few months shy of 25-years. They were Rolex dealers. Thankfully, I got out when I did, because for 25-years service (had I stayed). I would have been presented with a plastic Seiko clock with a label welcoming me to the "President's 25-year Club". So, ol' Jefcoat did not too badly. I have a small shoe box full of AS 984 movements in my stash.
Yep. Last place my father worked at before retiring, his boss got a solid gold Rolex Datejust for 10 years service and my father got a plaque and a $50 Zehrs gift certificate for his 25 years of service. He tossed the plaque into the garbage can, asked for his paycheque and left the room before the pictures were taken.
Nobody even noticed my 10th anniversary at the university I worked at. So I bought myself a nice watch, and quit.
I got a cheap quartz desk clock with the thinest silverplating in the world. Don't leave fingerprints, the acid will wear through the plating.
Been retired 7 years now from that City I use to work for and also retired for 15 years from the Navy Reserve and the Navy reserve gave me a better send off they gave me a real nice shadow box that had all your military awards.
A lousy generic card signed by the bosses left on my desk one morning for 25 years. Probably the same for number 30 that rolls around next year.