1930s Mido Silver Niello Ware Pocket Watch

1930s Mido silver niello ware pocket watch.

The watch has a good quality Swiss stem-winding movement, 15 jewels, three adjustments, which is working nicely. The movement is signed Mido, a name first registered by the Mido Watch Co of Biel and Solothurn in 1934. There would originally have been a micro regulator but this has been removed over the years, this does not affect the functionality of the movement.

The watch measures 49mm diameter excluding the winding crown and the loop. The case is known as niello. Niello is a black mixture, usually of sulphur, copper, silver, and lead, used as an inlay on engraved or etched metal, especially silver, in this case 800 silver. It is added as a powder or paste, then fired until it melts or at least softens, and flows or is pushed into the engraved lines in the metal.

The inner case back is stamped Niel HF, this is the mark of Huguenin Freres of Le Locle, Switzerland. They were well known jewellers and watch case makers, as well as manufacturers of some of the early Olympic medals. They were one of the most prolific producers of niello cases throughout the Art Nouveau and Art Deco eras.

The inside of the case back also has the Mido name.

The case is in good condition, just the odd minor mark, nothing too serious at all.

The watch glass is in good condition with just a small patch of light marking to the edge.

The signed dial is in its original finish with unusual Turkish inspired numerals and handsome blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and an outer minute track.

The watch comes in a new presentation box.

ALL PRICES INCLUDE UK POSTAGE (because of GPSR legislation, we no longer post items less than 100 years old to Europe, including Northern Ireland).

Please contact us regarding international shipping.

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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