Internet Horology Club 185
Help with Mystery Watch

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https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2291010082/m/6193972877

May 01, 2013, 21:30
John J. Flahive III
Help with Mystery Watch
Does anyone know what these hallmarks mean? The dial does not have any maker name. A friend of mine inherited the watch and wants to know more about it. He hasn't sent a pic of the movement yet.

Thanks,

John III


May 01, 2013, 22:19
Peter Kaszubski
moon and crown are german for silver
thats all I can decipher from the picture
http://www.925-1000.com/foreign_marks.html
May 01, 2013, 22:38
Andy Schwartz
great link peter!!!
May 02, 2013, 02:27
John J. Flahive III
Peter,

Thanks for the help. So we know the casemaker was German and was in business after 1888 when the moon and crown were instituted to represented all of Germany. Would this mean the watch is necessarily German, or could the movement be English or Swiss with a German case?

Here are better closeups of the markings. It looks like the stamped word is SALONNE or BALONNE with an acute on the E.


May 02, 2013, 02:28
John J. Flahive III
The sterling mark looks like it has the letters KAM in a box above it.


May 02, 2013, 03:29
Gerald Zimmermann
Hi John

Another part of the puzzle:

Swiss hallmark for 80% Silver (in use 1882-1934)


May 02, 2013, 05:10
Gerald Zimmermann
Update:

K & M : Kramer & Moser; Biel (switzerland); casemakers

'Galonne' (with acute on e) is the (french) word for gold plate, used on silver cases plated even in parts with gold; this could be a golden rim on the bezel.

The case was made in switzerland and exported to Germany.

I would like to see the dial & movement.

Regards
Gerald
May 02, 2013, 06:50
John J. Flahive III
Gerald,

Danke!

Here is a picture of the dial.


May 02, 2013, 06:52
John J. Flahive III
And here is the cuvette. It looks like there may be some gold highlights on it. I can't read the inscription.

I'm working on getting a picture of the movement.

John III


May 02, 2013, 07:42
Gerald Zimmermann
Thank you

Remontoir - keyless named on watchcases as a 'new' feature ~1880 - 1900

# rubis - jewel count

very likely a cylinder escapement

Gerald
May 02, 2013, 13:51
Peter Kaszubski
Swiss or German for sure by the pin set style.
May 02, 2013, 19:49
Gerald Zimmermann
Found this advert in a Swiss Watchmaker*s Journal from 1890:


May 03, 2013, 21:25
John J. Flahive III
Thanks Gerald. Neat advertisement.

No picture of the movement yet.

John III