[sandofagun]

I went to Paris this weekend and bought an old pocket watch at a street market in Montmarte. The seller told me the watch was probably french, but I can't find any information about it. It's very simple but pretty. I have no idea what material it's made of, but in the front of the watch stands "Régulateur Mondial" and the back has very small carved letters. I think it says "E.V. and Co". I've tried google-ing everything I can think of but nothing seems to work! So it would be fantastic if anyone here could perhaps help me with identifying the watch

Here below are pictures of it.

front: http://i.imgur.com/IG5pwaA.jpg
back: http://i.imgur.com/AP6zmXz.jpg

the images were too large to put them straight into the post.

best regards,

Sandra

 

[Hartmut Richter]

Welcome to Watchuseek. We can't really say too much about the watch without a peek inside to see the movement. For that, you need to open both back covers (there should be notches around the crown area for that). It is pin set and stem wound so it's probably from ca. 1890-1910. I'm sorry but I can't find anything about the maker.

Hartmut Richter

 

[sandofagun]

Thank you so much for the quick reply! I am too afraid to open it up myself since I'm afraid I might damage it. here are a couple more pictures of the back side:

http://i.imgur.com/N0B7Uqk.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Jeaj0fI.jpg

do you think it would be possible for me to open it myself? Could you maybe give me some simple instructions or do you think it's better to have a professional do it?

Sandra

 

[Hartmut Richter]

Well, the "golden ledge" on the edge of the case in the first of those two pictures shows where you need to pry it open. Use a sharp knife or your fingernail, if the former, you need to exercise some caution. It will open on the hinge ("golden ledge" in the second of your two pictures). Once the outer cover is off, you need to open the inner cover - for that, there should just be a notch on the inner cover around the same place where the ledge for the outer cover was. If you are reasonably careful, you shouldn't need a professional watchmaker for this (in contrast to modern wrist watches).

Hartmut Richter

 

[sandofagun]

I managed to open it!! Thank you so much!

imgur: the simple image sharer

Here are pictures of it from the inside! In the outer corner inside of it nearby the arrow is something that looks like a serial code. I think it says "33843". If you need any more pictures let me know!

Sandra

 

[SilkeN]

I can't identify these watch but its a "Gunnie". That means the case is made out of iron and protectet with a precious oxide layer. This watch is probably build a few years after 1900 and by the years the layer is worn out a bit.

With the name "mondial" mikrolisk a very good data base of watch producers listed several companies:
Mikrolisk - The horological trade mark index

The way of dial labeling matches well with a french watch. It would help if you open the backside and make a picture of the movement.

Kind regards Silke

Sorry very much too slow

 

[Hartmut Richter]

Well, the bad news is that it is hardly a spectacular watch: cylindre escapement with only 4 jewels (the minimum count for this sort of watch) so that reduces the chances that servicing would be sensible. The worse news is that the hairspring is trashed: the spiral underneath the gear held by the red jewels is a mess and will definitely need to be replaced. This makes it rather more expensive to service and reduces the sensibility of servicing still further. In short: it can be done but will cost disproportionately much, the bottom line being that it would be more sensible to get a different one of higher quality for all that cash and have that one done up.

Sorry not to be able to impart better news,

Hartmut Richter

 

[sandofagun]

Oh well, I was kind of expecting it to not be a very interesting watch. But I still find it nonetheless very fascinating (don't blame me, I'm only 18 years old and have no experience when it comes to pretty watches). I guess it will just have to serve me as a souvenir.

best regards and many thanks

Sandra

 

[sandofagun]

Oh I forgot one thing! You mentioned jewels, but I can only spot the red one on the arrow. Could you maybe point out to me what jewels you were talking about?

Sandra

 

[Hartmut Richter]

If you want a beautiful pocket watch, there are plenty to choose from. If the dial should look nice, try something like this, which should be of the same technical standard as yours (cylindre escapement):

https://www.watchuseek.com/f11/interesting-not-maybe-havent-anything-like-1093733.html (pocket watch converted to wrist watch - you get unconverted ones line this too)

...or if the casework should look beautiful, you can do rather better than yours - although this one takes a little investment:

A fine mc gold 18 size 1894 Waltham hunter case from fine dealer

But then, some people just like a high quality and nice looking movement, in which case the Americal Railroad Grade pocket watches may be just the ticket:

https://www.watchuseek.com/f11/hamilton-railway-special-937596.html

The good thing from the collector's point of view about pocket watches is that many people don't want them so there are more to go round at cheaper prices. The bad news is that the gold ones are scrapped for material value so those are getting rare.....

Hartmut Richter

 

[Hartmut Richter]

Yes, that's one of them. These are rubies and this one may still be "real" (or should I say: natural). Around the time your watch was made, people started making industrial rubies.

Rubies are used in watch movements to minimise friction, thereby increasing accuracy and reducing wear, The minimum count is four for a movement like yours and all are in the balance bearings. Most gears sit in two jewels (one each top and bottom) but the balance also has covering stones, making a total of four. There are actually movements having none (pin lever movements) but the modern standard count on a manual movement is 17.

Hartmut Richter

 

[eri231]

I'm sorry but your souvenir of Paris speaks French but with a German accent. "regulateur" is a word much used by French watchmakers but the movement has been patented and built by a German watchmaker brand "Libelle" (Dragonfly) Steinleitner & Schott Kaiserplatz 1 in Wurzburg Germany

regards enrico

 

[Hartmut Richter]

WOW! Pinpoint information. Thanks, enrico!

Hartmut Richter

 

[eri231]

BTW i LOVE Wurzburg
regards enrico

 

[sandofagun]

Thank you both so much! Very cool and interesting information But do you have any suggestions on how to clean the outside of the watch? It looks very rough and dirty right now. I'd like to see how clean it can get (if that's possible!)

Sandra

 

[Hartmut Richter]

It's supposed to be like that. It is "gunmetal", blackened for military service in order to avoid reflections by the sunlight which might reveal the wearer to the enemy. The same was sometimes done to gun barrels (hence the term "gunmetal"). So, the watch may still have been made for WWI, although its technology (pin set, cylindre escapement) was a little archaic by then.

Hartmut Richter

 

[sandofagun]

Wow!! That's so cool! So do you think that the watch has seen some war action? This just made my day, I don't think I've ever been as excited about a watch before as I am right now, haha.

 

[Hartmut Richter]

It is possible, but not certain. If there are some hallmarks on the inner case back, these might help date the watch more precisely. Other than that, we will unfortunately never know for definite.

Hartmut Richter

 

[sandofagun]

Oh well, thank you though!