I picke up really cheap on ebay a Swiss watch in a ball shaped case, I assume it is blue enamel (not to sure, I have never owned an enamel cased watch).

I was trying to get an idea of when it might have been made. It is a cylinder type escapement & I wondered if that might help date it.

Also the case is stamped Swiss Sterling 0.925 & some other marks that I tried to photograph.

I was thinking maybe from the 1920's but I didn't know if they still made cylinder escapements then.

Thanks for any help you might be able to give.

It is approx 8.5 lignes.

For some reason some of the writing on the movement was removed?

To fit the dial in the ball it has a very long center wheel shaft.

This is the ball, the blue green enamel is perfect all the way around.

It isn't actually snapped together in this photo, just each piece sitting on the other.

Swiss sterling mark

Lion mark. It also has what looks like a Swan that I couldn't photograph.

Other marks.

I am still working on getting the watch running continuously. It had a broken mainspring & it looks like when it let go it mangled a few gear teeth that I keep trying to straighten. Right now it hangs on one spot.

Thanks again.

Tom

Hi Tom

Cylinder movements were made until 1925/1930 they fade out of production esp. the small sizes for ladies watches and the pocket watches convertet to wristwatches an early wristwatches.
Your movement ist very likely an ETA 355 (it should have an oval mark on the dial side).
Ome of the silver marks is the swiss bear (silver 875) assay Bern (small 'x' between his legs).

Regards,
Gerald

Thanks Gerald, I thought you would know. Sorry if I put this in the wrong category, I couldn't decide if it was a wrist watch or a pocket watch.

Tom

Very unusual 'Watch' Tom,

Being Sterling Silver, and having a cylinder movement that's unusually well jewelled for it's type, would suggest the maker might be Bucherer, but not sure if it's too early for him (Charles Bucherer).

Bucherer are renowned for making very unusual ladies watches of the pendant and glass ball styles, very decorative, and Sterling silver.
I've a couple here plus a late 1800's type that I'll put up at some point.

I've got a fair selection of mainsprings for these, both alloy and blued steel if you get stuck for one.
Let me know the thickness, height and length in mm.

Best regards

John

Hi John

Thanks for the info. I actually found a mainspring to fit & got the watch running but unfortunately it looks like when the mainspring broken it caused a tooth to break off one of the wheels & some others to bend. I got the bent ones straight but due to the missing tooth the watch will occasionally stop when it reaches the missing tooth.

So for now I have just put it away to maybe look at again some day.

Tom