Buren Grand Prix WWII Military Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1940
This is a Swiss open-face military pocket watch by Buren, dated by the seller to circa 1940 and reported as used by the British government during World War II. The white enamel dial is signed 'BUREN GRAND PRIX' and 'SWISS MADE', featuring Arabic numeral hour markers, skeleton blued steel hands originally filled with luminous paint, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock.
The seller reports a stem-wound, stem-set 15-jewel nickel three-finger bridge movement with lever escapement housed in a 51 mm white metal case. The snap-on case back is reported to be engraved with a broad government issue arrow and marked 'GSTP, H17012, Bravingtons, London'.
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
- Military pocket watch
- Dimensions
- 51 mm wide by 13 mm deep
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Case Back Engraving
- GSTP, H17012, Bravingtons, London with broad arrow
- Maker / attribution
- Buren
- Winding and Setting
- Stem wound / stem set
- Movement Construction
- Nickel 3 finger bridge movement with lever escapement
- Maker and Calibre Inscription
- Buren, Grand Prix, 15 Jewels, Swiss Made
Design
- Visible features
- • White enamel dial with alternating solid and outlined Arabic numerals and an outer railroad minute track • Blued steel skeletonized hands devoid of luminous material • Subsidiary seconds dial positioned at 6 o'clock with ten-second numerical increments • Open-face white metal case showing substantial finish wear along the bezel • Round bow and ribbed onion-style crown positioned at 12 o'clock
- Movement Configuration
- The internal mechanism is a 15-jewel nickel three-finger bridge movement with a lever escapement. The movement is signed 'Buren, Grand Prix, 15 Jewels, Swiss Made'. The watch operates via a stem-wound, stem-set configuration. The source states the movement is in 90% mint condition with some light scratches and marks.
- Dial and Exterior Observations
- The timepiece features a white enamel dial, which exhibits a hairline crack near the 4 o'clock position. The hands are described as blue steel, noted to have lost their original luminous paint. The watch is housed in an open-face, white metal case measuring 51 mm in width and 13 mm in depth. The exterior shows wear, specifically described as white color loss on the front bezel and sides.
- Military Markings and Attribution
- The case features a snap-on back and bezel. The case back is engraved with a broad government issue arrow and the markings 'GSTP', 'H17012', and 'Bravingtons, London'. The seller identifies the watch as a piece used by the British government during World War II, with an approximate dating of circa 1940.
Identification
- Reference
- H17012
- 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 case back inscriptions are not visible in the supplied photograph and rely entirely on dealer statements
- Research required: Seller notes a hairline crack at 4 o'clock on the dial and lost luminous hand filling