Old Military Vintage Blue 40

Available in three sizes - 40 mm, 43 mm or 45 mm

The age of the old military pocket watch began at the turn of the last century and experienced its zenith between the two World Wars. After the Second World War, these watches were very rarely made. Only Cortébert, a mass producer of the time, still manufactured some military pocket watches – apart from that, demand had plummeted. The pocket watch had been almost completely replaced by the wristwatch, which resulted in the success of a sleeker design with smaller numerals. The design of the old military pocket watches, however, was defined by outsize Arabic numerals that were filled with luminous material. One particular feature of these watches is that the edges of the numbers can still be clearly seen. Normally, the luminous material was applied all over the printed numerals, but, in military watches, the insides of the printed numerals were hollow and only the insides were filled with luminous material. This is why the numerals had to be so big – otherwise it would not have been possible technically. Some dials even did without luminous material altogether as a result of cost-cutting measures, and some had only a few of their numerals filled with Luminova. What is also characteristic of military pocket watches is the typical ‘chemin de fer’ railway tracks around the outside, featuring a diamond at each compass point. They also all featured the seconds dial at 6 o’clock. Military pocket watches from premium Swiss manufacturers are still very highly prized by collectors to this day. In addition, there was also a range of largely unknown manufacturers that no longer exist.

Tourby Watches is drawing on the tradition of the old military pocket watch and offering this model in four versions. The classic version features a galvanised black surface, white print and C3 Super-Luminova. In addition, there are three vintage special editions – one with black antique lacquer and one with a milky enamel lacquer. Also a dark-blue model. The vintage editions feature a slightly brownish luminous material, which is reminiscent of Old Radium Luminova. Many antique military pocket watches look just like this today as a result of the ageing process on the luminous material.

Specifications:
manufactured watch case

40.5 mm wristwatches in vintage pocket-watch design

48 mm lug to lug

22 mm strap wide

8.75 mm thickness (without glas)

10.6 mm thickness total (incl. glas)

watch case in stainless steel

Old Radium luminous dial and hands

ETA Unitas 6498.1 Decorated SCDG

Swiss Made pocket-watch movement (17 Jewels, 18.000 A/h, 48h power reserve)

fine adjusted in 5 positions

Precision -2/+8 sec/day, after casing