Antique Silver Trench Watch with Ormsby Crest

An antique silver trench watch, 1909.

The watch has a Swiss hand-winding movement made for the English market and it is working nicely.

The watch itself measures 34mm diameter excluding the winding crown and the fixed wire lugs. The case is silver and there are hallmarks inside the case back for London (import mark), 1909 with a sponsor’s mark for George Stockwell.

From 1 June 1907, Stockwells acted as assay agents, facilitating the import into Britain of foreign gold and silver items, which had to be assayed and hallmarked in a UK assay office before being released for retail.

The case is an early attempt at producing a waterproof and dustproof wrist watch. It is very much in the style of François Borgel whereby the movement and bezel unscrew and lift out the front of the case back... there is a little movement in the bezel but it is very safe. There is a family crest on the back of the watch including the wording Fortis Qui Prudens (he is brave who is prudent). This was the family crest for the Ormsby family and used by Sir Lambert Hepenstal Ormsby, MD, of Merrion Square, Dublin, an eminent senior surgeon so we can be fairly certain that this was his watch, perhaps a gift on his 60th birthday. We have details of the original lengthy obituary from 1923, which summarises his life, and can send a website link to the purchaser of this watch. The case has a few marks and a couple of slight indentations but overall is in good condition for such an early piece.

The lens has a 4mm scratch but it is fairly light so not too noticeable to the naked eye.

The white enamel dial has a scratch between 8 and 9 but otherwise looks good. Pin set blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and an outer minute track.

A new 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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