Hi there, This is what i found between the lugs of my vintage watch: I am guessing they are non-English and I still couldn't quite make out what they are: "Goldcape 14C, 25 Centiem" (Franc??) And some sort of 'HF' or swastika symbol on the left. Appreciate any inputs on this!
The HF refers to Huguenin Frères et Cie SA, a well-known watch case manufacturer. More commonly you'll see the HF logo on the inside caseback, as seen here on a Speedmaster. The 14C likely refers to 14 karats, gold capped.
Maybe the thickness of the gold surface. If "centiem" means 1/100 of a millimeter, it would mean 250 microns, which is consistent with the "gold cape".
My initial thought was that the phrase was a reference to some sort of import duty. Many countries levied fees on imported watches and watch parts, especially those with some amount of gold. But, upon reflection, I think I like @François Pépin 's explanation better. Can we please see a picture of the whole watch? It is unusual to see any type of case information on the outside of the case.