Roman from France

prostie1200 · Dec 1, 2013

This little fellow arrived yesterday from France, I have had the back off but the movement is secured somehow into the back plate
and I cannot see how to remove it to view the movement - anyone here have a clue?
Its Me

dicus/Naiad size

cicindela · Dec 1, 2013

Definitely and interesting little guy with all raised Roman numerals. Hand of a style commonly used about 1940. Show us more.

Dablitzer · Dec 1, 2013

Very interesting.. I like the raised numerals as Steve pointed out, and dial details like the outer chapter ring.. can't believe the amount of dial variants there was in the 40's!

prostie1200 · Dec 1, 2013

Would love show you the movement but it is attached to the back plate of the case in some way - am at the WM on Tuesday and will get him to solve the puzzle - will put up a few more scans then

prostie1200 · Dec 1, 2013

Remembered the vendors pic - I only got this far and cleaned the muck off

the dial with a cotton wool bud - as you can see the movement and dial are attached to the back case

Tire-comedon · Dec 1, 2013

Interesting one. You should be able to extract the caliber by pulling it up from the back. I have a case made on the same principle, made for housing a R17.8, but the design is different if I remember well. Do you have other pics of the back and of the area where the winding stem connects with the back?
What is the size of the watch and how does the back remains fixed to the rest of the case?

prostie1200 · Dec 1, 2013

Thanks for the interest

The dial is 26mm diameter and seems to stand off from the movement showing about a half mm gap - I have really studied it (with a loupe) and just cannot fathom the means to extract the caliber from the back case. As I mentioned earlier I have a meeting with my WM on Tuesday and will get him to deal with the extraction as I have no wish to damage anything.

The back is a press fit to the front carcase

prostie1200 · Feb 12, 2014

Back from the WM all ready to wear

Tritium · Feb 12, 2014

prostie1200
Back from the WM all ready to wear

He did an excellent job on the dial.
Didn´t you take a picture of the movement?

prostie1200 · Feb 12, 2014

Managed to get this one just after he opened the case and before overhaul it's a 23.7T2

Omegonkey · Feb 24, 2014

looking fresh! The raised numerals really stand out now.
Just a clean that was mainly needed??

prostie1200 · Feb 24, 2014

O Omegonkey
looking fresh! The raised numerals really stand out now.
Just a clean that was mainly needed??

Hi

Yes a clean and service those old Swiss watchmakers really made the works

om9c · Mar 9, 2014

Very nice pic of the movement.

LouS · Mar 9, 2014

Wait a bit. Am I to understand the dial was not refinished? The printing is different, the minute track has migrated inward and the contrasting finish between the central area and the outside has been lost. That's unfortunate. There was very little wrong with the original. If you didn't tell the watchmaker to do that, I'd call out the angry villagers.

MSNWatch · Mar 9, 2014

Dial was refinished. 🙁

cicindela · Mar 9, 2014

The numerals also look refinished and changed. They were originally flat on the top, now they are smoothed down and rounded off on the top.