Here we have a circa 1914 Tavannes Silver Dennison cased, black dial trench watch. The case is well proportioned measuring just under 36mm wide. It is formed of silver and has the coin edge screw front and rear, with the wire lugs. The crown tube and crown are chunky, due to the water-resistant design from Dennison. The dial is the black enamel with silver signing and the bold Arabic numerals, with the aged luminous in-fill. It has the silver railroad minute track with the sub-second register at 6 o’clock. The hands are of cathedral style in the gold tone. Inside the case has the Dennison signing with the hallmarking from Birmingham assay office for silver, dating to 1914. The movement is the Tavannes calibre 330 which is a 15-jewel manual wind calibre, which has been recently serviced and is keeping accurate time.

We love this classic trench watch due to the symmetry of the Dennison case with the coin edge screw front and case back. It is also sleek due to the less common black dial. This is an impactful watch with a case width of just under 36mm.

The ageing, marks and tarnishing to the case have been preserved as a testament to this watches age and life. The original glass which is marked also remains. It could and usually would be restored, but it offers a fascinating patination which is less commonly seen and provides something different.

The dial is the black enamel with the silver signing. It has the railroad minute track around the exterior with the diamond shaped markers to the quarters. The bold Arabic numerals are silver with the aged luminous paint set within them. The sub-second dial is inset and has the railroad seconds track. The hands are of cathedral style in the gold tone, with the luminous in-fill. The sub-second hand is the gold tone and matches the hour and minute hands.

The case is well proportioned for the age, measuring 35.6mm wide x 35.8mm in length. With crown, the total width is 40.6mm and the wire lugs take the total length to 41.5mm, making this an impactful case size.

The case is formed of silver and was manufactured by Dennison. It is their water-resistant case design of the era with the coin edge screw front and case back. It also has the chunky crown tube and onion crown capping the right-hand side. The lugs have the fixed silver bars which are strong, securing the strap. The case back unscrews and is marked to the inside with the Dennison name and hallmarking from Birmingham assay office. It carries the lion mark for Sterling Silver with the date letter ‘P’ for 1914.

The movement is the Tavannes calibre 330 which is manual wind, with a jewel count of 15. It has been recently serviced and is keeping accurate time to within 90 seconds variation per day, with an amplitude of 180 degrees.

The watch is modelled on a 7” wrist circumference.
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
A further condition report is below.

Dial:
The dial is enamel and is original. It is in good condition with no chips, cracks or hairlines. The signing is clear to the dial. The luminous to the hour markers has aged to the brown tone. It has some marking to the surface.

Hands:
The hands are of cathedral style and have the luminous in-fill. The luminous has aged to the same rich tone as the hour markers.

Glass:
The glass is older and has been left as it is a good, original fit to the watch. It has noticeable scratching associated with age and wear. The decision to leave it was to preserve the aged look.

Crown:
The crown is the original onion design and is in good condition, functioning well.

Case:
The coin edge finish to the bezel has worn. The coin edge to the screw back is also less well defined with age. The case is antique with light marks and nicks associated with age and wear. It does have light scratching and tarnishing associated with age, that has been left to preserve the age. The front and rear screw on tightly with good threads.

Strap:
The watch is on a leather strap which hooks over the fix bar lugs. It will fit any wrist size.

Movement:
The movement is the Tavannes calibre 330 which is manual wind, with a jewel count of 15.

It has been recently serviced and is keeping accurate time to within 90 seconds variation per day, with an amplitude of 180 degrees.

Case dimensions
Case width: 35.6mm
Case width with crown: 40.6mm
Case length: 35.8mm
Case length lug to lug: 41.5mm
Case depth: 10.6mm