Antique Buren Pocket Watch, Drongan Military Connection

Antique Buren pocket watch, Drongan military connection.

The watch has a 15-jewel stem-winding movement identified as by Buren, which is working nicely.

The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover ‘Presented to L Cpl Andrew McCorrie, Royal Scots, by the Drongan Welcome Home Fund, in appreciation for services rendered the Empire.

We believe that the engraver made an error in that the name should read McCrorie, which is a name often found in the Drongan area. Indeed, there are various military records for both Private and subsequently Lance Corporal Andrew McCrorie of Drongan who served in the Royal Scots, service number 43208, including a published casualty list from September 1917.

The case is the gold plated Star model from the Dennison Watch Case Company. It is in good condition, just general light surface marks, nothing serious at all.

The glass lens is in good condition, just a 3mm scratch.

The dial is signed J N Masters Ltd, Rye.

J N Masters was the son of a watchmaker, John Masters of Tenterden, Kent and served time as a journeyman in Sevenoaks. The definition of a journeyman was someone who had completed their apprenticeship but was not yet a master. In 1869, Mr Masters bought the jewellers C F Lewns of Rye. He understood the importance of marketing, often advertising his watches in national papers to certain sectors of the community such as coastguards, railwaymen, military and clergy. These published adverts would perhaps explain how a watch sold in Rye happened to end up in Drongan in Scotland. Mr Masters also sold imported watches, clocks, jewellery and instruments.

Mr Masters was a colourful character, known to Queen Victoria, and in 1893 he became the Mayor of Rye. He also published an illustrated monthly magazine called 'Hope' containing '20 pages of interesting and instructive reading for 1d per month' and in 1921 he published 'Amusing Reminiscences of Victorian Times’.

The dial has some old damage on number 10. Originally the numbers and hands would have had painted detail but this has been removed, probably because of the radium content. The hands have been overpainted at some stage.

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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