A Gents Large 1950s Marvin Wrist Watch

A gents 1950s Marvin wrist watch.

In 1850, Marc and Emmanuel Didisheim set up a factory in Berne, Switzerland finishing watches using parts that they bought in. In 1891, they registered the name of the business as Albert Didisheim et Freres. However when they launched their products into America in the early 1890s, the name was not considered to be catchy enough so they adopted the name of their US agent, Marvin.

By 1912 the company was making all its components in-house and they soon built up a reputation for good quality watches at reasonable prices.

By the middle of the 20th Century, Marvin was a household name having promoted itself through motor sport sponsorship and celebrity endorsement with well known celebrities of the time, such as Marilyn Monroe, wearing Marvin watches.

In fact Marvin reached its peak in the 50s and 60s but the 1970s saw the increasing move towards quartz watches and eventually Marvin was absorbed into the Manufactures d’Horlogerie Suisses Reunies (MSR) conglomerate. 

This particular watch has a 17-jewel Swiss hand-winding movement, calibre 320a, which is working nicely. The movement is fully signed.

The watch is a good size measuring 24.5mm wide excluding the winding crown and 38mm high excluding the lugs. The case is unhallmarked silver (it has been tested and the results were positive). The case is nicely patterned down each side. Overall the case is in good condition, just light marking and a little unevenness to the hinged back.

The curved lens has a very small amount of light marking although you have to look very carefully to see it.

The signed dial is in its original finish and it is incredibly stylish with handsome numbers at 3, 6, 9 and 12 and a minute marker track in a diamond shape.

A new brown leather strap has been fitted.

The watch will be sent 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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