Oyster Watch Co. Abercrombie & Fitch cushion wristwatch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Circa 1927
This cushion-cased manual-wind wristwatch is attributed by the auction source to Oyster Watch Co. and dated to circa 1927. The auction catalog states the inner case back is stamped with serial number 00617 and bears the proprietary Snowite trademark, though later specifications in the listing also note stainless steel.
The cream-toned dial is signed 'ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. / OYSTER' and features oversized Arabic numerals, a railway minute track, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock, and cathedral hands. According to the source, the timepiece houses a 15-jewel, 3-adjustment movement built on an FHF ebauche, which is reported as not running due to a need for a new mainspring.
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
- Cushion wristwatch
- Case serial
- 00617
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Running status
- Not running / needs new mainspring
- Dial inscription
- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Oyster
- Case material claim
- Proprietary Snowite alloy
- Maker / attribution
- Oyster Watch Co.
- Movement calibre details
- 15 Jewels, 3 Adjustments, FHF base
Design
- Dial and Hands
- The light cream-toned dial is signed 'ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. / OYSTER' above the 6 o'clock position. It features oversized Arabic numerals, an outer railway-style minute track, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock. The watch is fitted with skeletonized cathedral-style hands containing dark infill. The source notes that the luminous material on the dial has darkened to a charcoal hue.
- Visible features
- • Cushion-shaped metallic case with fluted bezel and an onion-style screw-down winding crown at 3 o'clock • Light cream-toned dial featuring dark Arabic numeral hour markers, an outer railway minute track, and a subsidiary seconds subdial at 6 o'clock • Dial signed arched 'ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO.' above 'OYSTER' below the 12 o'clock position • Skeletonized cathedral-style hour and minute hands showing dark infill • Fitted to a dark textured leather two-piece strap with visible stitching • Wear, tarnishing, and edge marks visible on the case and around the bezel rim
- Case Construction and Markings
- The timepiece is housed in a cushion-shaped case with a fluted bezel and an onion-style screw-down winding crown. The auction source provides conflicting descriptors for the metal, identifying it both as 'Snowite'—a proprietary, chemically treated chrome-plated zinc and nickel alloy—and elsewhere as 'Stainless Steel.' The interior of the case back is recorded as stamped with the serial number '00617.' The documentation further notes the presence of a 'SNOWITE' trademark within a diamond logo, alongside references to various British, Swiss, and U.S. patents.
- Movement and Operational Status
- The watch utilizes a 15-jewel manual-wind movement on an FHF (Fontainemelon) ebauche, signed by the Oyster Watch Co. There are contradictory statements regarding the mechanical condition of the watch, with the documentation stating both that it is 'running and ticking strongly' and 'not running' due to the need for a new mainspring.
Identification
- Serial number
- 00617
- 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: Listing contains conflicting dimensions (stated as 21mm in narrative, 31mm in data block) and metal descriptors (Snowite alloy vs. stainless steel)
- Research required: Movement condition is conflictingly described as both 'running, and ticking strongly' and 'Movement Running: No ... Needs a new mainspring'
- Research required: Movement, inner case back, and case back markings are documented by source text but not visible in the supplied photograph