'Special Watches' from 1934 Catalogue

Hi to all.
I ask for your help in cataloging (and possibly giving an evaluation) this Helvetia found by a friend. Unfortunately I only own these photos. He informed me that the diameter is 42mm.
Thanks a lot to those who want to help me.
Max

Hello, Max. The bund strap (surely not the original?) and the onion-shaped crown make me think this was a flieger watch of the 1930s/40s. It is also has the crown at 12 o'clock. Taking my information from the superb https://www.helvetiahistory.co.uk/movements, that would fit with this being a cal 51. Fortunately for you and all of us, the author of @Helvetia History is a member of this forum, and will be able to guide you.

It is definitely not flieger watch - DH=Dienstuhr Heer - Military land-forces.
It is probably converted pocket watch - lugs look like added later and size is too big for wristwatch of the time.

Hello Max.

This watch is a Helvetia German Military DH pocket watch that has been converted, recently by the look of it, into a wrist watch by soldering lugs to the sides of the case and shortening the stem.

Unfortunately as a collectors item this ruins the originality. It is a genuine wartime watch however but this is not the way it left the Helvetia factory in about 1943.

The calibre is the 32A and this movement was also used in the GS/TP pocket watches supplied by Helvetia to the British armed forces during the war.

Below are some pictures of how it originally would have looked.

Thanks. Carl.

Exactly right. You replied as I was typing!

Many thanks to everyone and especially to Helvetia for the valuable information.
I had guessed it was a pocket watch but I wasn't sure.
So the modification is not vintage but recent, right?
What could be an honest assessment for this watch? I wouldn't mind buying it but I think the demand is excessive.

Hi,

I think it was done recently.

A pocket watch like this would be worth about £200 or so depending on the condition but you will have to decide if the conversion makes it worth more or less than this. For me I wouldn't spend more than £40 but I wouldn't wear a watch like that so would be buying it for parts and to try to 'save' it.

Thanks.

Carl

thank you very much Helvetia. I think I'll leave it where it is. The price is much higher ...

I have one almost NOS made by MIMO (Girard Perregaux).

Best rgds
Peter

That's lovely Peter. These all have Helvetia movements. Have you seen my page?

https://www.helvetiahistory.co.uk/helvetia-large-date-watches

Yes, it´s very interesting.

I have some early Helvetia watches from the 1930:s in my collection. I beleive we had a dicsussion regarding a skeletonized one some time ago...

Best rgds
Peter

Hello all,

I've just acquired a watchmaker's and Jewellers catalogue from the same company, Robert Pringle and Sons, as the one above. This one from about 1924. Though it is mostly tools, lathes, files etc. there are a couple of interesting pages with straps and other bits and pieces so I thought I'd add them here.

Thanks. Carl.

those are some really cool rectangular case Helvetias. Tks for sharing TS

Some more Helvetia advertising from about 1930 which has a fold up bottom strip which holds an insert with illustrations of the watches.

As well as the brilliant advertising hype it's interesting to me as it shows the model numbers and also the fact that they seemed to make these in silver and chrome and two different mens' sizes as well as a ladies size. I've only ever seen silver 30mm or so versions.

I've added a google translate version of the text underneath.



HELVETIA

WATERPROOF WRISTWATCH WITH SHOCK ABSORBER

On sale at good watchmakers




Take away all the trouble by buying a HELVETIA waterproof wristwatch

Remember that this watch is also equipped with a shock absorber, an ingenious mechanism that prevents the balance shaft from breaking in 80% of cases, and you won't be able to repress a feeling of admiration.

By taking care of your HELVETIA watch which is waterproof and shockproof, you will find that the risk of breakage is practically eliminated, that repairs become very rare and that you can be sure of the accuracy of your watch. This will serve you well for many years.

The precision of a watch is also largely due to the purity of the oil used, because the balance performs

5 oscillations per second, i.e. 432,000 per day, and 157,680,000 per year,

without ever stopping, the pivots must roll in a very fine oil.

A waterproof case will preserve the purity of this oil for a very long time, because neither dust, nor humidity, nor other oxidizing agents, such as perspiration, can penetrate it.

The many advantages of the HELVETIA waterproof watch with shock absorber make it the ideal watch for all uses and in all climates.


HELVETIA 15 jewels anchor WATERPROOF BRACELET WATCH

equipped with a shock absorber

practical, well-regulated, resistant

best watch for heavy duty, travel, sports and military.




Quality reduces price by extending duration. Don't buy the cheapest, but the best; the best is always the cheapest.

MANUFACTURED: GENERAL WATCH CO. BIEL (SWITZERLAND)




THE HELVETIA WATERPROOF WRISTWATCH WITH SHOCK ABSORBER is a marvellous instrument for measuring time.

The movement, of modern construction, is based on the latest technical data and possesses invaluable quality, absolute interchangeability of all its parts.

Whether you walk your steps in the icy regions of the North, or in the Tropics, the HELVETIA wristwatch will always give you the exact time.

A balance wheel with a self-compensating hairspring ensures that the HELVETIA watch runs regularly and shields it from variations caused by temperature differences.

The extensively researched HELVETIA waterproof watch case is specially constructed to prevent the entry of dust, vapours and even water.

The HELVETIA waterproof watch is essential for anyone who works in the open air, as well as for anyone who enjoys fishing, boating, swimming...


WATERPROOF HELVETIA WATCH WITH SHOCK ABSORBER fitted with a lever movement, 15 jewels.

Why is the movement equipped with a mechanism called a shock absorber? The automobile has consecrated the success of this marvellous mechanism.

Anyone who owns a HELVETIA wristwatch will get to know the indisputable advantages of the shock absorber with which each HELVETIA wristwatch is fitted.

Remember these two expressions: waterproof and shock absorber which make the fortune of the HELVETIA watch.

The movement with shock absorber resists sudden jerks.

The HELVETIA waterproof case does not let in either dust or water.

Cyclists, motorcyclists, motorists, sportsmen, tennis players, soccer players, polo players, swimmers, rowers, gymnasts, shooters,
wear a waterproof watch provided with a shock absorber.

The marvellous results of this incomparable watch will make it your everyday and forever friend.







Here is one of mine. 3135 I think but has had the fixed lugs removed.




And my 3135B




Thanks. Carl.

No these are clip backs with washers in the back and the stem tube. They are an earlier version of the watch in the diagram at the start of the thread, from 1934, showing a cutaway.

Here are another couple of ads from 1931 and 1932.

Hello all,

Another watch I acquired this month is illustrated in the 1931 edition of the Wilderness Catalogue. It is an interesting swing ring cased shock protected cushion case watch with a 1928 hallmark that matches the date of the Helvetia serial number.











I have been on the look out for one of these for a while since I saw the illustration below from the catalogue.





David Boettcher illustrates this on his watch case page https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/w....php#swingring

The ring actually fits very tightly into the case and the stem snaps into place so I think it would not do a bad job of keeping dust and grime away from the movement but it is decidedly not waterproof! Though not running at the moment I have a couple of these shock protected movements I acquired when first researching them so hopefully I can resurrect it.

I'm about to add it to my page on early Helvetia shock and water protected watches here: https://www.helvetiahistory.co.uk/1930s-sports-watches

Thanks. Carl.

Hi all.

Time for another update to this thread!

I found the 1933 Huber advert below with some nice watches, including one of the cushion cased chronometers everyone was asking about at the beginning of the thread.



A lot of the watches in this ad may be by Helvetia as Huber were a reseller for a lot of Helvetias at this time.

And another update.

I've just been kindly sent a three page Helvetia ad from 1937 which answers a few of my questions about their early wristwatches.

It's interesting as it shows a range of versions sold together which from the serial numbers I know followed each other over a number of years. Interestingly the first page, showing the qualities of the watches, use the early cushion case as an illustration whereas those for sale are the slightly later tonneau versions. Most of these watches have photos earlier in the thread. I think I've got at least one of all of these and the earlier ones apart from the two completely round ones.



I've just included a couple of snippets of the other pages here but if anyone wants to see the full pages I can add them.

First here is a diagram showing all the water and shock proof qualities of the watches with the relevant patents:



Then this part where the ad mentions that the case back must be fitted by a watchmaker to make sure that the leather washer is fitted properly. This the first time I've seen it confirmed that the original washers were leather.



There is also a picture of Helvetia's famous pilots watch.



The ad mentions that it comes with a leather strap for wearing over a flying suit. We know they were worn this way but it's nice to see it mention in a contemporary advert. A bit like this previous one I have that mentions the thick glass is to stop fogging with temperature changes.

This is why I like finding these old adverts so much.

Thanks.

Carl