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WATCH
WITTNAUER
GUILLOCHED DIAL
CIRCA 1960
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Wittnauer is a watch and clock company that was founded in New Rochelle, New York, in 1885 by Swiss immigrant Albert Wittnauer.
Albert Wittnauer was a Swiss immigrant who arrived in New York in 1872 at the age of 16. He began working for his brother-in-law, Eugene Robert who was an importer of fine Swiss watches.
The first line of Wittnauer watches was manufactured from 1880 onwards, but the Wittnauer brand was officially established in 1885, when Mr. Robert gave the title to Albert Wittnauer as "A. Wittnauer Company". Wittnauer's movements were initially generally subcontracted by Swiss companies (Revue Thommen et al.).
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The company started as a small family business, catering to the ever-growing world of scientific and private exploration, which earned them a good reputation by those who needed reliability such as navigators, explorers and astronomers.
A. Wittnauer Co. became more involved with the U.S. Navy for early testing in the emerging fields of aviation and navigation.
During World War I, Wittnauer produced instruments and watches for the first aviation units. Probably the most famous model was the Wittnauer AllProof, first produced in 1918, and used by adventurer Jimmie Mattern in his 1933 attempt to circumnavigate the globe in his Vega 5B, "Old Cromwell," and by Neil Armstrong during the Gemini 8 mission. On May 20 and 21, 1932, Amelia Earhart made the first solo flight of a woman across the Atlantic with her Lockheed Vega-5B equipped with Wittnauer instruments.
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Wittnauer products have been widely used in scientific expeditions and exploration, and were, along with Longines movements, one of the three contenders for the first mission to the moon with Omega Speedmaster and Rolex Daytona.
During World War II, Wittnauer started its main production line of compasses, used by soldiers and airmen during combat.
In 1950, the Swiss company Longines bought Wittnauer and marketed very similar watch lines under both brands, now separate factories.
In 1995, Swatch broke off the 125-year collaboration between Longines and Wittnauer and took over the distribution of Longines. The Wittnauer Company maintained its reputation for most of the 20th century. After some budgetary problems, it was finally bought by Bulova.
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This example is magnificent of elegance and refinement. Its dial is guilloched with a concentric spiral movement. Its hands are also guilloched, with the same chasing, extremely rare for this kind of pieces. The hourglass-shaped indexes reinforce the eccentricity of this piece.
It is in very good condition for its age. The case is gold plated and the back is stainless steel. The glass is new.
The watch is driven by a 17-jewel mechanical winding movement.
A very beautiful watch, elegant and subtle details. Rare.