AUTHENTIC, WITTNAUER AUTO BUMPER GENTS WRISTWATCH

BRAND/JENAMA : AUTHENTIC VINTAGE WITTNAUER EXPLORER STYLE GENTS WATCH

MODEL : MILITARY

MOVEMENT/ENJIN : 17 JEWELS AUTO BUMPER MANUAL CAL. 11AW

ORIGIN/BUATAN : Longines/Wittnauer Swiss
NO. SIRI/SERIAL NO. : -

CIRCA/TAHUN : 1950's

CASING/KEMASAN : FULL STAINLESS STEEL

FUNCTION/FUNGSI : HOUR & MINUTES AND SWEEP CENTER SECONDS
DIAL: CREAM
BEZEL: STAINLESS STEEL

MARKINGS/TANDA JENAMA : DIAL, MOVEMENT
BAND/TALI : GENUINE BROWN LEATHER STRAP FIT 8" 
LUGS SIZE: 18mm
BAND WIDTH: 120mm

LENS/CERMIN : HARDLEX ACCRYLIC CRYSTAL

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN : 34mm WITHOUT CROWN X 40mm LUG TO LUG
WATER RESISTANT: NOT TESTED

CONDITION/KONDISI : EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION 
PRICE/HARGA: USD400 (NEGOTIABLE))
SOLD RM

HISTORY OF WITTANAUER WATCHES

The A. Wittnauer Co. would become the exclusive sales agent for Longines in1880. This relationship lasted for the next 114 years. In 1936, the Wittnauer family sold A. Wittnauer Co. and renamed the Longines-Wittnauer Co. the name became so pervasive that some people think that the watches are synonymous. But, of course, they are not. Their movements are distinct and not interchangeable with one another.

World War II and beyond

The company began to produce military issue watches during the Second World War. Most of these watches were for the European forces. In 1994, Longines and Wittnauer parted company, and Swiss giant SMH, which holds title to Hamilton, Omega and Tissot, got the name.

Chronographs

The company started to show its affinity with sporting events during the 30s and 40s, producing a lot of unusual types of chronographs. Many were manufacturer with Longines's own movement, unlike the rest of the companies which would rather buy chronograph from other companies. Therefore, the Longines chronographs, those which were produced from the 20s to the 50s are highly prized and have their own separate niche in the collecting world.

The best of Longines's chronograph movements was said to be the Caliber 13 ZN. It was first released in Longines' 2-register models, but was later adapted for use in its 3-register models. The following chronographs would show movements made by Valjoux and others. These are not recognized nearly as collectible as the chronographs with Longines' own movements.

SOLD-AUTHENTIC VINTAGE SOVERIGN NAVY GENTS MILITARY WATCH

BRAND/JENAMA: AUTHENTIC VINTAGE SOVEREIGN NAVY MILITARY GENTS WRISTWATCH

MADE IN/BUATAN: SWISS BY BENRUS

CIRCA/TAHUN: 1960's

MODEL: CASUAL

CRYSTAL/CERMIN: ACRYLIC

MOVEMENT/ENJIN: BENRUS UNKNOWN MANUAL WINDING MOVEMENT. CANNOT OPEN CASE BECOZ OPEN TRU CRYSTAL 

DIAL COLOR:  MATTE BLACK

FUNCTION/FUNGSI: HOUR, MINUTE AND SWIPE CENTER SECONDS. MILITARY INDEXES

HANDS/JARUM: LUMINOUS WHITE

MARKERS/TANDA WAKTU:  ARABIC MILITARY MARKERS

BEZEL: BASE METAL

CASING : BASE METAL TOP & STAINLESS STEEL BACK

LUGS: 16mm

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 34mm DIAMETER EXCLUDING CROWN and 40mm LUG TO LUG

DITANDA/ENGARVED BACK CASING: NONE

CROWN: UNSIGNED GP CROWN

STRAP/TALI: GENUINE BLACK LEATHER STRAP

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 8.5"

WORKING CONDITION, KEEPING TIME, DISCONTINUED MODEL & HARD TO FIND.

NOTICE: VINTAGE WATCHES AGED 30YRS IS NO LONGER GUANRANTEED IT'S WATERPROOF AND WATER RESISTANT SO AVOID FROM DIRECT CONTACT WITH WATER

PRICE/HARGA: USD200 SOLD

BRIEF HISTORY OF BENRUS, SOVEREIGN AND BELFORTE WATCHES

Although the company went out of business in 1977, large numbers of their well made and dependable fine Benrus watches are available as vintage collectors’ items.

Way back in 1921 three brothers called Oscar, Ralph and Benjamin Lazrus founded the Benrus Watch Company. History doesn’t tell us why Benjamin was the brothers’ name that was chosen but the company name, Benrus, is a combination of the first syllable of his name and the second syllable of their family name. Benrus watches is sometimes mistaken for a Swiss watch making company because early in its history the American owned and operated company leased one floor of factory space from a Swiss owned watch making company that was located in La Chaux de Fonds in Switzerland. Their reason for doing this was to help to circumvent the draconian regulations against the use of Swiss watch movements in foreign time pieces. The earliest models of Benrus watches featured precision movements made by the Schild Company, a well known and established Swiss watch maker. The first watch casings from the Benrus Watch Company are not marked with their brand name due to the Swiss regulations discussed previously.

In the decade of the 1930’s the innovative and creative styling of Benrus watches started to attract quite a following. Their chic designs featured such innovations as cushion watches and rectangular shaped watch casings. It was during this period of time that the Benrus Watch Company first became well known to the American consumer market. The company continued to be known as a leader in style and design in the watch making industry. During the 1940’s they made a range of fine time pieces that are avidly sought after by vintage watch collectors today. Perhaps the most famous of these was the manually winding calendar watch.

Other brands that sold under the Benrus name were

SOVEREIGN
BELFORTE

In the 1960's through the late 70's, Benrus made military issue watches used by the Army and Navy. These were issued to servicemen fighting in the Vietnam War.

Early in the 1960's Ben and Ralph Lazrus were in their 70's and ready for retirement. By the mid to late 70's Benrus Incorporated was a diversified manufacturer of a number of consumer products. Companies included: Benrus Watch Co. Watches, Wells, Inc. Jewelry, and Destino, Ltd. - Christian Dior Products. An attempt to consolidate all the various manufacturing enterprises under one roof proved to be a much more expensive move than anyone calculated, and a final blow to the company which subsequently filed bankrupt in 1977.

The company was then sold, and after passing through several more hands, came under the ownership of the Hampden Company, which also owned "Fantasy Diamonds", with factories in both the Virgin Islands and Chicago. An attempt was made to bring back the Benrus brand under Hampden/Fantasy, which was somewhat successful but short lived. Among others, a reissue of Vietnam service watches proved very popular.

AUTHENTIC VINTAGE WITTNAUER MILITARY GENTS WRISTWATCH

BRAND/JENAMA : AUTHENTIC VINTAGE WITTNAUER MILITARY GENTS DRESS WATCH

MODEL : MILITARY

MOVEMENT/ENJIN : 17 JEWELS MANUAL CAL. 11ES (based on ETA CAL.1080) 

ORIGIN/BUATAN : Longines/Wittnauer Swiss
NO. SIRI/SERIAL NO. : -

CIRCA/TAHUN : 1960's

CASING/KEMASAN : FULL STAINLESS STEEL

FUNCTION/FUNGSI : HOUR & MINUTES AND SWEEP CENTER SECONDS
DIAL: CREAM
BEZEL: STAINLESS STEEL

MARKINGS/TANDA JENAMA : DIAL, MOVEMENT
BAND/TALI : GENUINE ORANGE LEATHER STRAP FIT 8" 
LUGS SIZE: 18mm
BAND WIDTH: 120mm

LENS/CERMIN : HARDLEX ACCRYLIC CRYSTAL

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN : 36mm WITHOUT CROWN X 42mm LUG TO LUG
WATER RESISTANT: NOT TESTED

CONDITION/KONDISI : EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION 
PRICE/HARGA: USD400 (NEGOTIABLE))
SOLD RM

HISTORY OF WITTANAUER WATCHES

The A. Wittnauer Co. would become the exclusive sales agent for Longines in1880. This relationship lasted for the next 114 years. In 1936, the Wittnauer family sold A. Wittnauer Co. and renamed the Longines-Wittnauer Co. the name became so pervasive that some people think that the watches are synonymous. But, of course, they are not. Their movements are distinct and not interchangeable with one another.

World War II and beyond

The company began to produce military issue watches during the Second World War. Most of these watches were for the European forces. In 1994, Longines and Wittnauer parted company, and Swiss giant SMH, which holds title to Hamilton, Omega and Tissot, got the name.

Chronographs

The company started to show its affinity with sporting events during the 30s and 40s, producing a lot of unusual types of chronographs. Many were manufacturer with Longines's own movement, unlike the rest of the companies which would rather buy chronograph from other companies. Therefore, the Longines chronographs, those which were produced from the 20s to the 50s are highly prized and have their own separate niche in the collecting world.

The best of Longines's chronograph movements was said to be the Caliber 13 ZN. It was first released in Longines' 2-register models, but was later adapted for use in its 3-register models. The following chronographs would show movements made by Valjoux and others. These are not recognized nearly as collectible as the chronographs with Longines' own movements.

AUTHENTIC VINTAGE BULOVA MIL-W-3818A FOR US ARMY GENTS MILITARY WRISTWATCH

BRAND/JENAMA: AUTHENTIC VINTAGE BULOVA MILITARY GENTS WRISTWATCH

MADE IN/BUATAN: USA

CIRCA/TAHUN: 1960's

MODEL: MILITARY MIL-W-3818A FOR US ARMY

CRYSTAL/CERMIN: ACRYLIC

MOVEMENT/ENJIN: BULOVA 17 JEWELS AUTOMATIC WINDING MOVEMENT CAL. 10BNCH

DIAL COLOR: BLACK MILITARY/HITAM MILITARI

FUNCTION/FUNGSI: HOUR, MINUTE & SWEEP CENTER SECONDS

HANDS/JARUM: SILVER TONE/ KEPERAKAN

MARKERS/TANDA WAKTU:  PATINATED LUMED ARABIC MARKERS

BEZEL:  STAINLESS STEEL

CASING : ALL STAINLESS STEEL / KELULI SEPENUHNYA

LUGS: 16mm

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 32mm DIAMETER EXCLUDING CROWN and 38mm LUG TO LUG

ENGRAVED BACKCASE : WRIST WATCH~MIL-W-3818A ~SERIAL NO: 23989 ~

CROWN: UNSIGNED SS/ KELULI

STRAP/TALI:  AUTHENTIC TROPIC LIKE RUBBER STRAP BULOVA 

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 8.5"

WORKING CONDITION, KEEPING TIME, DISCONTINUED MODEL & HARD TO FIND

NOTICE: VINTAGE WATCHES AGED 30YRS IS NO LONGER GUANRANTEED IT'S WATERPROOF AND WATER RESISTANT SO AVOID FROM DIRECT CONTACT WITH WATER

PRICE/HARGA: USD900 (NEGOTIABLE)

AUTHENTIC GLYCINE'S ALTUS US MILITARY GENTS WRISTWATCH

BRAND/JENAMA: AUTHENTIC VINTAGE ALTUS MILITARY FOR US ARMY GENTS WRISTWATCH

MADE IN/BUATAN: SWISS

CIRCA/TAHUN: 1986

MODEL: MILITARY TC-GS

CRYSTAL/CERMIN: ACCRYLIC

MOVEMENT/ENJIN: HIBEAT 28800boh HACKING 17 JEWELS MANUAL WINDING MOVEMENT ETA CAL.2801-2 CW6

DIAL COLOR: BLACK

FUNCTION/FUNGSI: MHOUR, MINUTE, SWIPE CENTER SECONDS

HANDS/JARUM: LUMINOUS TRITIUM HANDS

MARKERS/TANDA WAKTU: LUMINOUS ARABIC MILITARY MARKERS

CASING : ALL STAINLESS STEEL

LUGS: 18mm

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 34mm DIAMETER EXCLUDING CROWN and 41mm LUG TO LUG

DITANDA/ENGARVED INSIDE BACK CASING: 6645 00 066 4279~ 52870/NO 113/ OCT 1986 ~MODEL TC-GS-OWS-53166 ~ DISPOSE RED WASTE ~ US 

CROWN: SS UNSIGNED CROWN

STRAP/TALI: NEW ARMY CAMO TEXTILE STRAP BAND

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 7.5"

EXCELLENT CONDITION, WORKING, KEEPING TIME, DISCONTINUED MODEL

PRICE : USD800 (NEGOTIABLE)

LISTING: USD800.00 SOLD

BRIEF HISTORY OF GLYCINE AND ALTUS WATCHES

Charles Hertig sr. bought Glycine in 1953 and merged it with Altus purchased by C. Hertig sr. in 1950.

The registration probably is dated form before the merge.
The ownership of this registration past on to

Glycine in 1953.