Oyster Watch Co. Raleigh wristwatch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1940
This mid-size wristwatch, designated as the 'Raleigh' model by the Oyster Watch Co. of Geneva, dates to approximately 1940. Housed in a two-body stainless steel case measuring 30.5 mm in diameter, the watch features a screw-down crown and case back, along with concave lugs and an inclined bezel.
The watch is powered by a 10 1/2''' rhodium-plated movement, which includes 15 jewels, a straight-line lever escapement, and a monometallic balance with a flat balance spring. The two-tone matte silver and gilt dial displays Arabic numerals and luminous baton hands, with an outer minute and seconds track featuring five-second increments. This specific example was formerly owned by Canadian general and diplomat James Alan Roberts.
The lot is accompanied by a Rolex box, an article regarding the watch, and a copy of the former owner's memoirs.
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
- Water-resistant center-seconds wristwatch
- Case number
- 110749
- Case diameter
- 30.5 mm
- Movement size
- 10 1/2'''
- Case reference
- 3136
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Dial description
- Two-tone matte silver and gilt
- Former ownership
- General James Roberts
- Case construction
- Two-body
- Maker / attribution
- Oyster Watch Co.
- Movement construction
- 15 jewels
Design
- Visible features
- • The case back is engraved with the initials 'J.A. Roberts' • The dial features a dual-tone aesthetic with silver and gilt sectors • The crown is of the screw-down type • Luminous material is applied to the baton hands and Arabic numerals
- Case and Dial Design
- The watch is constructed in a two-body stainless steel case with a diameter of 30.5 mm and a thickness of 11.5 mm. The external features include polished surfaces, an inclined bezel, and concave lugs, which hold the watch securely to the strap. The case design incorporates a screw-down crown and a screw-down back, which the auction records indicate is engraved with the name 'J.A. Roberts'. The dial is finished in a two-tone matte silver and gilt configuration, providing contrast for the Arabic numeral hour markers. The perimeter of the dial features a detailed track for seconds and minutes, marked with Arabic numerals at five-second intervals. Time is indicated by luminous baton hands, although the auction report identifies that these components are partially replaced.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The object is associated with General James Alan Roberts (1906-1990), a Canadian military figure and diplomat who served as the Commanding Officer of the 8th Canadian Brigade in Holland and later as Canada's Ambassador to Switzerland. His professional career also included serving as the Deputy Secretary General of NATO. The lot includes specific supplementary materials meant to establish its history and origin. These items consist of a Rolex-branded display box, a German-language article concerning the watch, and a hardback edition of the memoirs written by General Roberts.
- Movement and Mechanical Details
- Internally, the timepiece is driven by a 10 1/2''' rhodium-plated movement. The movement features 'fausses cotes' decoration, which serves as a traditional finish for watch calibers. It is built with 15 jewels and utilizes a straight-line lever escapement to facilitate accurate timekeeping. The balance assembly consists of a monometallic balance paired with a self-compensating flat balance spring. Regulation is managed via an index regulator.
Identification
- Reference
- 3136
- Serial number
- 110749
- 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: The auction description notes the hands are partially replaced
- Research required: The auction description reports the movement requires an overhaul