Diomed - 148863 - 1850-1900

The present watch:
The Diomede pocket watch is an antique Swiss pocket watch, made of silver, known for its precise Swiss movement and decorative design from the late 19th and early 20th century.
Manufacture and Origin
The designation “Systeme Glashütte” or “Système Glashütte” on old pocket watches is not an indication that the watch actually originates from Glashütte/Saxony. Rather, it was a promotional tactic: manufacturers from Switzerland (factories such as FHF – Fabrique d’Horlogerie de Fontainemelon, but also smaller makers like Charles Hahn, Kocher, Hänni & Künzli, among others) used the reputation of Glashütter watches to advertise their own works. This is especially true for models from around 1890–1920. The watch was completely manufactured in Switzerland and equipped with a Swiss movement. This watch is of high quality and contains a solid Swiss movement. The existence of your old watch (with the engraving “Diodeme 1897, Système Glashütte”) most likely indicates a custom-made piece, a small-series producer, or pure fantasy engraving.
Description:
On the dust cover there are engravings Systeme Glashütte with medals on the silver lid and the designation: Ancre Levees visibles spiral Breguet. In the lid there is a stamp with two letters C and M stacked on top of each other. The case number is 148863 with an additional 8. The movement itself has no number. Above and below the stamp denoting 800 silver content is a Swiss Auerhahn hallmark. Both are slightly different in shape. The Swiss silver hallmark “Auerhahn” marks the watch as Swiss-made, typically from about 1880 to 1910. Slightly different figures indicate hand-stamped marks typical of watch production of this era. In the lid there is a symbol with the letters C and M stamped. The combination of the letters C and M, stacked on top of each other on a watch, generally stands for “Christus Mansionem Benedicat” – a traditional blessing symbol for the consecration or protection of the home. Especially with antique, handmade watches or religiously inspired wall and mantel clocks this symbol appears. The white dial is flawless without hairline cracks, new-looking and has a round pattern in the center.
Watch Movement Technical Features
Function: manual winding. As “System Glashütte” watches, they typically feature a 3/4 plate:
Often screwed chatons
Swiss anchor escapement
Bimetallic balance with a Breguet overcoil
Escapement: anchor escapement, with 15 jewels. The watch from 1897 seems to have a remontoir with 15 jewels and a functional, clean dial, enamelled with texture and black indices.
Case
The case is made of 800 silver, both covers also silver. Weight 88.8 g. The medal engravings on the inner case back are ornamental for advertising purposes; they are not actual awards; some may be “fantasy medals.” Relief decorations on the case cover and back, ivy motifs, or other delicate engravings. Diodeme watches are considered interesting collectibles for connoisseurs of antique Swiss timepieces with decorative appearance and reliable mechanics.
Current condition:
• Intact mechanical functions
• Clean, undamaged dial
• Original case and glass
• Minimal wear and scratches, two barely noticeable dents
• It runs perfectly with about 1 minute of deviation per day.
• Visually like new.