Vintage Ladie's wrist watch - Help!

[Dawn O]

I have a ladie's wrist watch that is a 17 jewels, model 40, #3138 or 3139, VH. E. Phillips Co.; Vauchay and also usadjusted set in a 6 diamond 14k solid gold casing. All the information about jewels, model # and so on is on the watch inside where you see the jewels. It works and was given to me by my grandmother. I'm trying to find some information about it. Can someone please help me.

Dawn

 

[Squite]

Hi Dawn,

Posting clear photos of the face of the watch, the back cover, and the inside markings, including the movement itself, will greatly help your chances of people being able to recognize something about it that they may be able to share with you, other than what you already know.

The 3138/9 that you mention is probably a caliber designation for that movement. It is more than likely Swiss made, with the Philips name being either that of the maker or retailer (I'm leaning towards the retailer). Without seeing it I'd guess it probably dates somewhere between 1925-1950.

 

[Dawn O]

Hello Squite,
I have posted some pictures of the watch and I hope this helps you. I thank you for your time.

View attachment 163573 View attachment 163574 View attachment 163575 View attachment 163576

 

[Squite]

Well, I saw a couple of things on these photos that have helped.

1) The placement of the 'Vauchay' in relation to the 'Philips' engraving. These are probably 2 different companies or brands. The 'Vauchay' name was registered by Louis Goering/Imperial Watch Company of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, in 1945. Philips is probably the name of the retailer that Goering was contracted to make the watch for, and Vauchay the 'brand name' of the line of watches Goering made for export.

2)There is a jewel setting that looks like an anti-shock setting on the lower right, which protected jewels from breaking due to jarring impacts. These types of settings were invented in the 30s and became frequent in the late 40s on most wrist watches.

So, it looks like we pinned down a maker and a more specific period from those photos. Good work!

Here's a couple of photos of a ladies' watch I have from Goering, actually marked Goering, dating probably 15 or 20 years earlier than yours:



Here's another Swiss ladies' watch I have, this one a pendant style, showing that it's not uncommon to see two different names engraved on imported Swiss movements:

 

[Dawn O]

Thank you SO MUCH for the information on my watch. My grandmother gave me this watch.

 

[Squite]

You're welcome. My grandmother left me the pendant watch I just posted photos of!

 

[Roland Ranfft]

Hi Dawn,

The movement of your watch was likely replaced some time ago. The style of the watch is typical for the 30s, while movement features like Incabloc shock device together with screw balance is typical for the mid 50s.

Depending on the beat rate, your movement is either an AS 976 or an AS 1676, or any of its many derivatives:
http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk&AS_976

But ladies movements of this shape and dimensions were kind of standard. They were available from many manufacturers, and almost all were interchangable without any modifications needed for case, dial, and hands. So it was pretty easy to take a replacement from stock (or from another watch), instead of getting a damaged movement running again.

Regards, Roland Ranfft

 

[Squite]

I too was wondering about the style of the case as it seemed a bit older than the movement, but I just figured they were going for a 'retro' style.

 

[Adam Harris]

Hi Dawn,

The movement of your watch was likely replaced some time ago. The style of the watch is typical for the 30s, while movement features like Incabloc shock device together with screw balance is typical for the mid 50s.

Depending on the beat rate, your movement is either an AS 976 or an AS 1676, or any of its many derivatives:
http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk&AS_976

But ladies movements of this shape and dimensions were kind of standard. They were available from many manufacturers, and almost all were interchangable without any modifications needed for case, dial, and hands. So it was pretty easy to take a replacement from stock (or from another watch), instead of getting a damaged movement running again.

Regards, Roland Ranfft

Roland, as always good post
Just to clarify for thread owner
You are talking about her first (oval) watch
The round (pendant style) watch looks 100% original

Best