Gents 9ct Gold Béguelin Wrist Watch, Royal Marines, 1917

UK POSTAGE ONLY FOR THIS ITEM

The watch has a Swiss 15-jewel hand-winding movement which is working nicely. The movement has been identified as by Béguelin & Cie, suppliers to the Rolex Watch Company.

The watch measures 32.5mm diameter excluding the winding crown and the fixed wire lugs. The case is 9 carat gold and there are hallmarks inside the hinged case back for Birmingham 1917 together with a case maker’s mark for the Dennison Watch Case Company, a Birmingham based case maker and supplier to various watch makers.

The back of the watch has an inscription, ‘Presented to Serg’t JJ Weaver from RM Detachment, HMS Canada, August 1919’.

James John Weaver was born in Bethnal Green in 1883. He enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1902 and went on to become a Sergeant in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Portsmouth Division, HMS Canada.

HMS Canada was originally built for the Chilean Navy as was named Almirante Latorre. The ship was requisitioned and commissioned into the Royal Navy in August 1915, being renamed HMS Canada. She was unique in the Royal Navy in that she had ten 14 inch guns.

During the Battle of Jutland, HMS Canada formed part of the 4th Battle Squadron, commanded by Vice-Admiral Sturdee. She fired 42 rounds of 14-inch and 109 rounds of 6-inch, but suffered no damage or injuries. In 1920, she was repurchased by Chile and resumed her original name.

(livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk)

The case is in good condition, just a little unevenness to the back of the watch.

The lens is in lovely condition.

The dial is in its original finish. Originally there would have been luminous detail to the dial and hands but this has been removed.

A new leather strap has been fitted.

The watch comes in a new presentation box.

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All of our watches are checked over before listing, and are also checked for accuracy which is usually within around +/- two to three minutes over 24 hours (unless otherwise stated), which is considered respectable for a vintage watch.

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