Harry van Zwoll School Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1900
This pocket chronometer is described as a graduate's masterpiece from the École d'horlogerie Le Locle, manufactured circa 1900. It features a silver case with a gold crown and an enamel dial.
The movement is a bridge-type construction, identified as Calibre-ecole 20'', and incorporates a pivoted detent chronometer escapement. Further technical specifications include a Guillaume gold screw compensation balance and a balance spring with two terminal curves by Phillips. The watch is associated with Harry van Zwoll, a German watchmaker and musical instrument dealer. This object belongs to the class of 'school watches' (Montres École) produced by the technical training institution in Le Locle, Switzerland.
The auction description reports that the object is in very good condition across its case, dial, and movement, and that the watch is capable of running, although cleaning is recommended.
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
- Pivoted detent chronometer
- Maker
- Harry van Zwoll - Ècole d'horlogerie Le Locle
- Origin
- Schweiz
- Weight
- 144 g
- Balance
- Guillaume gold screw compensation balance
- Dimensions
- 56 mm
- Escapement
- Pivoted detent
- Case Material
- Silver with gold crown
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Movement Number
- 161
- Maker / attribution
- Harry van Zwoll / École d'horlogerie Le Locle
Design
- Visible features
- • Silver case with gold-colored crown • Bridge-type movement with gilded plates • Guillaume balance with gold timing screws • Enamel dial with subsidiary seconds
- Case and Dial Construction
- The pocket watch is housed in a silver case, which is finished with a gold crown. The dial is composed of enamel, featuring standard Roman numeral indices and a subsidiary seconds dial positioned at the six o'clock mark.
- Movement and Technical Features
- The movement is a bridge-type configuration designed as a 'Calibre-ecole 20''', reflecting the instructional nature of the piece. It utilizes a pivoted detent chronometer escapement, a mechanism synonymous with high-precision timekeeping. The regulation is managed through a Guillaume gold screw compensation balance paired with a balance spring featuring two terminal curves according to the Phillips design. The movement, numbered 161, corresponds with the case number, indicating the components were kept together as a set. The overall mechanical condition is reported as very good, noting that the watch remains capable of running, though professional cleaning is advised for future performance.
- Provenance and Historical Context
- This object is identified as a graduate's masterpiece from the École d'horlogerie Le Locle. The school, located in the Canton of Neuchâtel, was founded in the 1830s to foster expertise for the Swiss precision watch industry. By 1901, the institution expanded into the Technicum Le Locle, a central hub for technical watchmaking education. The watch is attributed to Harry van Zwoll, a German watchmaker and dealer based in Bunde.
Identification
- Reference
- Calibre-ecole 20''
- Serial number
- 161
- 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: Cleaning of the movement is recommended for optimal function
- Research required: Historical attribution to Harry van Zwoll as a graduate is based on auction documentation