Milex Elem - Trench Watch - 没有保留价 - 556528 - 中性 - 1917

Milex Elem – "Trench Watch" 军用银 925 纯银手表 – 可走动 – 格拉斯哥 1917/1918

Lot Description:
Splendid and exceptional vintage wristwatch, a genuine "Trench Watch" (trench watch) dating from the World War I period (circa 1917-1918).
This specimen represents a perfect and fascinating historical bridge in the transition from pocket watches to the earliest wristwatch models.
The watch was produced by the famous Swiss manufacturer Milex Elem Watch Co. (Bienne), which officially registered the "Elem" brand in 1915.
Technical Details and Case Hallmarks:
The case diameter is 28 mm (crown excluded), a classic and elegant size of the era for early wristwatches, and it is made entirely of solid sterling silver tuned to 925. The hinged back case encloses an extraordinary series of historic hallmarks that certify its authenticity and the era’s supply chain:
Punch "FW": Manufacturer’s/assay agent mark for the case registered for silver purity control.
Dating letter "U": Official code from the Glasgow Assay Office, dating the case exactly between 1917 and 1918.
Oval 925: Guarantee of sterling silver.
Serial number of the case: 556528.
Dial and Crown:
Dial: Original period "trench" dial with light finish, chemin de fer minute track, black sharp Arabic numerals, and the distinctive red "12" highlighted, an aesthetic detail typical of early military wristwatches to aid immediate reading.
Hands: Original era, browned and beautifully shaped.
Winding crown: Extremely rare, original and signed "ELEM SWISS", proof of total contemporaneity and integrity of the piece.
Case construction: Equipped with soldered wire lugs and a hinged back that closes perfectly.
Movement and running condition: Manual-wind mechanical movement of Swiss manufacture with lever escapement, classic bridge architecture typical of the early 20th century and rack-and-pinion regulation with A/R (Avant/Retard). Marked "Swiss Made" near the mainspring barrel.
The watch is perfectly functional, running smoothly and responds well to manual winding.
Conditions:
The watch presents in extraordinarily well-preserved vintage aesthetics for an object that has passed a century of life. The silver case shows a magnificent warm patina. The dial displays period charm without compromising legibility at all.
Completing the watch is a brown leather strap in vintage style that fits perfectly with the flush lugs. A piece of the highest historical and collectible interest, ready to be placed in the finest vintaged watch collections.