Year on Tavannes?

[ChristinaAnn]

I inherited mother in laws jewelry and this old pocket watch was in her items. We are trying to date it to match to her ancestry records for the initials”LR” at least that what we think the inscription is. Family was Polish so not sure where this Tavannes started and the serial doesn’t help. The case is keystone, face says Tavannes Any ideas on date or any info?

 

[roughbarked]

Welcome to the forum.
It is a nice old watch. Though not of the highest grade but from a good maker.
The only ones I can dig out with that pallet cock looking a bit like a chicken, are the 570-573. Ranfft has them with different bridge layouts often so I'd go by the size and the pallet cock.

bidfun-db Archive: Watch Movements: Cyma 570

www.ranfft.de

Just type Tavannes or Cyma into his search panel. See others.
However it would be the measurements. 15.25'''(ligne), Dm= 34.1mm, Do= 34.9mm

 

[ChristinaAnn]

Welcome to the forum.
It is a nice old watch. Though not of the highest grade but from a good maker.
The only ones I can dig out with that pallet cock looking a bit like a chicken, are the 570-573. Ranfft has them with different bridge layouts often so I'd go by the size and the pallet cock.

bidfun-db Archive: Watch Movements: Cyma 570

www.ranfft.de

Just type Tavannes or Cyma into his search panel. See others.
However it would be the measurements. 15.25'''(ligne), Dm= 34.1mm, Do= 34.9mm

Thank you so much for your response, I did look and don’t think I have quite found one similar. My watch doesn’t have a cyma stamp, do you think that means it dates before the cyma Name came to tavannes?

 

[mosesgodfrey]

Hi ChristinaAnn —echoing welcome! You are lucky to have inherited this watch. Although it boasts a modest 7J movement, the case should be solid 14K gold. “Jewel” here is a Keystone watch case size name—in this 1908 ad, you can see it is smaller than a 0 size (the American forum folks may know exact size). Check the other caseback markings vs those shown to confirm if yours is solid gold.

Yours was made circa 1910-1912. The bottom fitting to convert it to accept a bracelet was soldered on later. The movement was registered in HC & larger size in 1906 as # 12 (not always the caliber #).

 

[eric the bully]

The one in figure no. 12 was the 15 or 17 line gauge, which was different. While the movement of the OP is the caliber 1 in the 11-line version it was called 111, while the 13-line caliber was 113.
These calibers were in production until the 1940s.
Regards enrico

 

[MrRoundel]

I was wondering about whether, with the "Jewel" marking, that case was originally casing, or at least planned for casing, a Waltham Jewel series. The Jewel series is a 6/0s in American sizing. This equates to about an ~11 ligne as was stated by enrico. Cheers.

 

[ChristinaAnn]

Hi ChristinaAnn —echoing welcome! You are lucky to have inherited this watch. Although it boasts a modest 7J movement, the case should be solid 14K gold. “Jewel” here is a Keystone watch case size name—in this 1908 ad, you can see it is smaller than a 0 size (the American forum folks may know exact size). Check the other caseback markings vs those shown to confirm if yours is solid gold.

Yours was made circa 1910-1912. The bottom fitting to convert it to accept a bracelet was soldered on later. The movement was registered in HC & larger size in 1906 as # 12 (not always the caliber #).
View attachment 764523
View attachment 764524

Thanks for the feed back, the back cover has the first keystone stamp shown in the add. I believe it’s real gold. We are just trying to figure out who it belonged to in the family. No one has seen it before we found it in moms jewelry box after she passed. This is the first of two pocket watches that we found. I am enjoying all the research and learning the terms you guys are using.

 

[roughbarked]

Thank you so much for your response, I did look and don’t think I have quite found one similar. My watch doesn’t have a cyma stamp, do you think that means it dates before the cyma Name came to tavannes?

Tavannes, Schwöb Frères and Cyma

History of Tavannes and Schwöb Freres watch companies, and the brand Cyma

www.vintagewatchstraps.com

Cyma and Tavannes - Time Worn Watches

Cyma can trace its routes back to the Schwob brothers Joseph and Theodore, who established Schwob Frères in 1862, in Switzerland.

www.timewornwatches.co.uk