Lemania (Unbranded) Single Pusher Chronograph with a Brilliant White Ceramic Dial and Crisp Dial Printing, in Full Working Order, c.1920

TheAvenue de la Grande Armeis an avenue inParis,France, marking the boundary between its16thand17tharrondissements. It was formerly named Avenue de laPorte Maillotas part ofRoute Nationale 13, but was renamed to its present name in 1864 in honour of theGrande Armeof theNapoleonic Wars. This is printed on the dial at 12 o’clock.

What’s on offer

After lengthy research on the internet, I am rather stumped on this watch and although I can find other examples, none have the Paris address on the dial like this one. If you can offer any expertise I would love to hear from you!

By the by – the watch is in stunning condition – it is a century old or thereabouts ( I know this from the Lemania 16” hand-wound caliber.), so the fact it is so well preserved and in full working order is quite remarkable. Any antique or vintage collectorwould be overjoyed with this piece! The white ceramic dial (printed withAux Excursionnisters Avenue de la Grande Armee, Paris) has remained perfectly white and boasts beautifully sharp black and red printing – the Arabic numerals are almost Breguet in style and 12 is in red – this is something that is reminiscent of trench watches and was a design detail on many watches of the time – it does not denote that the watch was military issued contrary to popular belief! The fixed wire lugs are another design detail which lead some to believe this may be a re purposed pocket watch – this isn’t the case however, this watch is possibly one of the earliest purpose built wrist watches ever made so it does bear a resemblence to pocket watches as of course this is wherewristwatches were developed from. The onion crown with integral chronograph pusher is also in very nice shape – and full working order! This is a stunning piece and we are pleased to offer it for sale in such fantastic condition!