Libelle - Vintage - 1950-1959

Pocket Watch Libelle Antimagnetic 17 Jewels - Swiss Mechanical Movement (Mid-20th Century)
​Technical and Aesthetic Description
​Case: Chrome-plated metal with a polished finish, minimalist linear design and a rounded “savonette/lepine” profile with the crown at 12 o’clock. It has a diameter of 43.06 mm and a total weight of 42.45 g. Smooth screw-back case with slight signs of wear.
​Dial: Silver-colored dial with a sunburst finish. Applied hour markers in gold/rose-gold tones in relief, combining linear baton markers with stylized Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9. Central hands are baton-shaped in gold. Black inscriptions: "LIBELLE", "17 RUBIS", "ANTIMAGNETIC" and the lower marking "SWISS MADE".
​Crystal: Domed organic (plexiglass).
​Movement (Calibre): Manual-wind Swiss-made mechanical movement, equipped with 17 jewels, anti-shock system and anchor escapement. Balance bridge with a rack-regulated regulator marked with the letters A-R. Movement clean with a light metal finish and standardized screws and components of the mid-period.
​Brand and Movement History
​Brand Context (Libelle): The Libelle brand name (meaning dragonfly in German and other Central European languages) was used mainly by independent Swiss watch brands during the heyday of manual-wind mechanical watchmaking in the mid-20th century (1950s and 1960s). These brands typically sourced components and standardized calibers produced in the Swiss watch valleys (especially in the Bernese Jura and Soleure), intended for export to European and American markets under widely recognizable commercial designations.
​Calibre Evolution: The 17-jewel movement represents the technical standard of high functionality for the era, ensuring reduced friction in the main axles of the gear train and greater chronometric accuracy notwithstanding everyday wear. The inclusion of the Antimagnetic specification responds to postwar industrial modernization, protecting the balance spring from magnetic fields generated by household appliances and everyday devices.