Pierce Mono-Button Chronograph
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1940s
This Pierce chronograph is a mono-button timepiece from the 1940s, featuring a 34 mm stainless steel case. The watch is powered by a 17-jewel in-house movement.
The black dial contains luminous Arabic numerals, luminous hands, and a white chronograph sweep hand. The dial design incorporates a telemeter scale for measuring sound distance and a tachymeter scale for speed calculation. According to the source, the brand marketed the piece as a "4 in 1" watch. The watch is currently fitted with a black Nato strap. Historical associations provided by the source suggest usage by the British Army's medical division and as an official watch for Trans-Caribbean Airlines flight crews.
It is described as a navigator pilot's chronograph model.
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
- Mono-button chronograph
- Circa
- 1940s
- Maker
- Pierce
- Movement
- 17 jewel in-house movement
- Functions
- Timekeeping, stopwatch, telemeter scale, tachymeter scale
- Case diameter
- 34 mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Maker / attribution
- Pierce
Design
- Visible features
- • Single push-button mechanism on the side of the case • Luminous Arabic numeral hour markers • White chronograph hand visible against the black dial • Telemeter and tachymeter scales printed on the dial periphery
- Case and Dial Design
- The watch is housed in a 34 mm diameter case featuring a stainless steel back and bezel. The design is characterized by a single push-button operation situated on the case side, which controls the integrated chronograph functions. The dial is black with mild signs of age, displaying luminous Arabic numerals and matching luminous hands. A white chronograph sweep hand operates in conjunction with the dial-printed telemetric and tachymetric scales. These scales allow for the calculation of sound distances and speed, respectively, contributing to the watch's functionality as a multi-purpose instrument.
- Movement and Functionality
- The timepiece is driven by a 17-jewel in-house movement manufactured by Pierce. The watch is marketed by the vendor as a 4-in-1 device, integrating standard timekeeping and stopwatch capabilities with distance and speed measurement scales. The mono-button configuration serves as the singular interface for the chronograph's stop-start functions. The vendor reports that the movement is currently running.
- Historical Context and Provenance
- The vendor attributes the widespread use of these chronographs to the British Army's medical division during the Second World War, noting the British government as a significant contractor. Furthermore, the watch is identified as a navigator pilot's chronograph, a designation applied during the late 1940s. Additional historical context provided indicates that Pierce chronographs were designated as the official timekeepers for the flight crew of Trans-Caribbean Airlines.
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: Historical military and aviation associations are attributed by the vendor without primary source documentation
- Research required: The specific production year within the 1940s is not verified