Trench Watch Ww1?

[DMS]

Can anyone confirm if this is the real deal for me?  Been offered it and not seen one before.

 

 

Edited May 11, 2014 by DMS

[WillFly]

I'd be very wary of these "trench watches" - there are so many of them out there. They may well be 1910s - or 1920s - or even 1930s. Unless they're silver and hallmarked - or unless they have a WW1 Ministry of War marking (crow's foot or "pheon") on the back, I never touch them.

 

There's a vogue for things military, and sellers try and cash in on this. Same with "railroad" watches - many are simply not RR grade.

Edited May 11, 2014 by WillFly

[DMS]

A wise man indeed Mr WillFly, thank you, I will check this out when I see the watch in my dirty little mits, I've only seen these photos of it.  Thank you. :thumbsu:

[Geo]

It appears to have a base metal case and the movement looks very basic and cheaply made. I cannot see a makers mark or serial number on it either.

If it runs and you like it that's fine, but I wouldn't pay much money for it.

Sorry to be so negative!

[anilv]

I think you need to make a distinction between a watch worn in the trenches and a military 'issued' watches.

 

In this case I can imagine this being a personal watch of a soldier in the trenches as opposed to a watch paid for by HM govt and issued to a soldier.

Whenever I see these old watches I always think back to how old my ancestors were at the time... In this case assuming it came from 1915, my grandpa was only 10 yrs old and there was no electric supply in the village he grew up. He only saw the first motor car when he came to a bigger town to work in 1922!

 

We tend to look at watches as part of life today but in those days they cost a bigger chunk of their salary ... a different time.

 

Wear it and enjoy the sense of history... but don't pay too much for it.and don't expect to make money from selling it!

 

Anil

[WillFly]

Good points, Anil. In fact, I'd go even further. There's not only a distinction to be made between a real trench watch, i.e. one used in the trenches, and military-issue watches, but also between real military-issued watches and non-military watches with a military styling and design. And, if you want to complicate matters even further, there are watches which were bought by the War Department and engraved with military markings - but never actually issued and then sold as army surplus. Ebay is riddled with all these categories and it can be a minefield to sort through when looking for the right article.

 

The point that I was making is that you see lots of these "trench" watches on eBay, and part of their selling/marketing play is to cash in on the current vogue for military watches, and for WW1 timepieces and militaria in particular. Many of those advertised as such are simply not - and they're a con. This is not to say that they're not decent watches - they may well be - but they're being offered under false pretences and sometimes at inflated prices. That's why I'm so picky about what I buy - and I never buy to make money, just for the love of the item.

Edited May 27, 2014 by WillFly

[WillFly]

Just to add a point: Here's an example of what looks like a perfectly decent watch currently for sale on eBay:

 

Auction no: 161312302077

 

Probably 1920s - no idea what the movement's like as there's no pic or description, but there's no false advertising in the auction here - no "trench watch" or "WW1 watch" or "Officer's watch" - which you see all the time - just a straightforward description of what was quite a common watch of its period.

[WillFly]

At the risk of being boring or over-egging the pudding, here's an eBay item for sale described as "Officer`s Trench" Swivel Lugs Enamel Dial BUREN Wristwatch circa 1914 -1918"

 

Auction no: 151308395053

 

Not a shred of evidence in the watch itself for the usage or the date. That's what I mean by misleading advertising...

Edited May 27, 2014 by WillFly

[Neil]

Hi, new to site, seeking help. Have a watch just like member DMS from Milton Keynes who asked for aid in May 2014 re. a ww1 era wristwatch.

Don't know much about it except it runs, hands turn, but they won't adjust as winder won't seemingly pull out to release them.

My question is - there is a separate button beneath the winder - does anyone know what this is for - I have no idea how to use the watch if there is some sequence or trick to adjusting/resetting the time?

Thanks in advance

Neil

 

 

 

[Geo]

Welcome to the forum Neil. You have what is called a pin set watch. To set the time, press down the pin then turn the crown (winder) to set the time.

[WillFly]

Spot on instructions from Geo. Pin set watches had a brief vogue around the turn of the last century - in between the era of key set movements and that of crown set movements.