Postala - 30067 - 1900-1949

Postala pocket watch, period 1910-1920. Diameter mm 52, weight g 115.
Normal signs of use.
Manufacturer: The watch bears the Postala Patent mark (with the typical red logo stamped at the center). The Postala Watch Co. mark was registered in Switzerland (in Tramelan-Dessus) from 1908 by Voumard, Leppert & Co. and later managed by Jacot & Monnier.

Style "Patent": The inscription "Patent" (Brevet) combined with this aesthetic style suggests that the watch houses a movement inspired by the famous Roskopf system (or a derivative). These were robust movements, inexpensive to produce (often with pin-pallet escapement) and highly reliable, originally intended for workers and railway employees.

2. The Dial and Hands
Enamel and 24 Hours: The dial is a classic white enamel. The most interesting feature is the double time-circle: it has large Roman numerals (I-XII) for the main hours and a smaller outer ring with Arabic numbers (13-24). This is known as a 24-hour dial, typical of watches used in military or railway contexts to avoid morning/evening confusion.

The Hands: It carries elegant hands in a "Sword" style (or "Poire" for the hour hand), usually made of blued or browned steel, a feature that offered high legibility. The absence of a seconds hand is common in the simpler models of this type.

3. The Case and the Time-Setting Mechanism
Material: From the color and finish, the case appears to be made of non-precious metal (such as nickel, chrome, or argentan), which was standard practice for watches intended for daily work use.

"Pin-Set" (pusher) system: On the edge of the case between the 10 and 11 o’clock positions, there is a small pin/pusher. This is the mechanism to reset the time: unlike today, you did not pull out the crown. To change the time, you had to press that little pin with your nail and simultaneously rotate the crown.