Blancpain Art Deco Wristwatch Cal. Rayville 42
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
mid 1920's
Maker / issuer
BlancpainSource reports describe this vintage Blancpain Art Deco wristwatch as dating from the mid-1920s. It features a rectangular metal case with cut corners measuring 27.5 mm by 31.2 mm, a lug-to-lug length of 38.7 mm, and a thickness of 10.2 mm.
The silver dial displays luminous Arabic numerals, black printed tracks, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock. Inside, the manual-wind movement is identified by the seller as a Swiss Blancpain Caliber Rayville 42 with 15 jewels and three adjustments. The interior case back is reported to bear the markings 'ACME W. C. Co. SUPERBA'.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Art deco wristwatch
- Lug to Lug
- 38.7 mm
- Case Thickness
- 10.2 mm
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Case Dimensions
- 27.5 x 31.2 mm
- Movement Caliber
- Cal. Rayville 42
- Case Back Markings
- ACME W. C. Co. SUPERBA
- Maker / attribution
- Blancpain
Design
- Visible features
- • Rectangular case with beveled cut corners and a fluted winding crown at 3 o'clock. • Silver dial with bold stylized Arabic numerals and an inner rectangular railroad minute track. • Subsidiary seconds dial positioned above 6 o'clock intersecting the minute track. • Dial signed 'BLANCPAIN' below the 12 o'clock position. • Fitted with open-worked luminous hands and attached to a black leather strap.
- Dial and Visual Appearance
- The timepiece features an Art Deco presentation with a silver dial displaying luminous Arabic numerals and printed black tracks, including an inner rectangular railroad minute track. The dial is signed with the Blancpain name below the 12 o'clock position, and a subsidiary seconds hand is situated at 6 o'clock. External examination shows open-worked luminous hands and a rectangular metal case with beveled cut corners and a fluted winding crown at 3 o'clock. The watch is fitted to a two-piece black leather strap.
- Case Construction and Markings
- According to the seller's listing, the case measures 27.5 mm by 31.2 mm, with a thickness of 10.2 mm, a lug-to-lug span of 38.7 mm, a 15 mm lug width, and a 16 mm band width. The listing describes the case as having cut corners, fancy split-fixed lugs, and engraved sides. The interior case back is reported by the seller to be marked 'ACME W. C. Co. SUPERBA', though this interior marking is not visible in the provided front photograph.
- Reported Movement and Chronological Attribution
- The movement is not visible in the front photograph. The seller identifies the internal mechanism as a manual-wind Swiss caliber with 15 jewels and three adjustments, labeled 'Blancpain 15 Jewels Three 3 Adjustments Cal. Rayville 42 Swiss'. The seller describes the watch as dating from the mid-1920s. However, the listing's own historical summary states that the Rayville firm name ('Rayville S.A., succ. de Blancpain') was established around 1932 following the death of Frédéric-Émile Blancpain, leaving a chronological tension between the reported 'Cal. Rayville 42' marking and a mid-1920s date.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Movement and inner case back markings are reported by the source but not visible in the supplied front image.
- Research required: Rayville name was adopted after 1932 according to brand history, contrasting with the mid-1920s attribution reported by the seller.