@Fritz and I did some horse trading recently. Even though I didn’t get an actual horse out of the deal - and my wife would really like a horse - Fritz was super kind to me and included with the loot Fritz sent was this charming size 12 Crest gents watch, still in its original box(!) The watch has a Swiss-made 17 jewel movement with 2 adjustments in a Canadian-made case. The case material isn’t marked, but it looks and feels like a pleasant gold fill According to the interwebs, Crest was a house brand of Canada’s People’s Jewelers (est c1921), but it was also a trademark of Waltham and also Gruen. If anyone has any info on who THIS Crest is, or the date of manufacture, I’d appreciate it! · Serial # 29874 · There is a number under the balance wheel, Ref 7XX? But I can’t read it because of the balance wheel in the way · 17 Jewel mvmt also marked “U.S. Patents”, “Swiss”, “2 TWO Adjts”, and of course, “Crest” · Case # 4044459 As noted, the watch is in its original case that is marked with Howard H. Patch Ltd. Jewellers from Montreal. I’ve done a little digging…Howard was born in Kingston, Ontario and the family moved to Montreal where he attended high school. After graduation he worked for Henry Birks and Sons in Montreal (Birks is Canada’s version of Tiffany’s) and married a woman named Marjorie in 1914. Not long afterwards, WWI broke out and Howard joined the 5th Royal Highlanders of Canada and served overseas with the 73rd Royal Highlanders of Canada, rising to the rank of Captain. He was wounded at Vimy Ridge in 1917. Fortunately Henry survived his injuries and returned Canada where he opened Howard H Patch Jewellers.
Mikrolisk shows many firms who used the Crest name. You will note that Tavannes (Cyma) was one of the firms that used the Crest name. The movement in the watch is a 17-ligne Cyma.