For sale we have a nice example of a circa 1914/15 WW1 Period, George Stockwell imported, Enamel dialled, silver cased Borgel trench style watch. It has a neat 34mm x 34mm silver hallmarked case, signed with the Borgel logo, with British hallmarking. It has a neat coin edge bezel, with a bright white enamel dial, cathedral thermally blued hands and a well-designed Swiss lever movement.
The Borgel case is the most well known patented attempt at water and dust proofing from the early 20th century. The design consists of a solid main section, with the movement contained within a carrier ring, with movement, dial, hands, bezel and crystal. This movement section screws into the solid section of the case. There is a whole in the carrier ring for the stem and pin hand setting. It also has a tube projecting from the case with the winding crown constantly mounted within the end. This is necessary to aid with water/dust proofing and to allow the crown to be pulled out, to turn the bezel and movement section to remove it.
The bezel should never be levered off. The correct method is to pull the crown outwards and hold it out. You then unscrew the movement section via the bezel.
The case is well proportioned. The main body of the case is solid, with wire lugs, with the coin edge bezel unscrewing to expose the movement. The thread is also in good condition with it screwing down as it should. The wire lugs are sturdy and thick. To the right of the case is the traditional large crown tube on the Borgel patent. The onion style crown is original and functions as it should.
The enamel dial is original and is in good condition with no chips or serious damage. It is a bright white tone, with simple dash minute markers. The Arabic numerals are black outlined with replaced lume in-fill with has been given an aged look and has the benefit of not being radioactive. The sub-second dial is neatly in-set into the dial, with 10 second graduations in Arabic numerals.
The hands are original, of Cathedral style and have been re-lumed with the same aged tone. They are a thermally blued tone which has oxidised to a purple tone in areas.
The watch is presented on a leather strap for fixed lugs, held in place with metal tabs.
It is a 15 jewel Swiss lever movement with finger bridge layout. It has perlage finishing beneath the balance. The service history is unknown and the watch would likely benefit from a service. It has a daily gain of +140 seconds, with an amplitude of 205 degrees and a beat error of 0.9m/s.
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
A further condition report is below.
Dial:
The enamel dial is original and is in good condition with no chips or serious damage. There are two small hairline fractures by 10 O’clock. The signing is good and clear.
Hands:
The hands are original, of Cathedral style and have been re-lumed. They are a thermally blued tone which has oxidised to a purple tone in areas. The sub-second hand is original.
Glass:
The crystal is an acrylic replacement which is in very good condition.
Crown:
The crown is the original crown which fits as it should.
Case:
Main body of the case is solid, with wire lugs, with the coin edge bezel unscrewing to expose the movement. The thread is also in good condition with it screwing down as it should. The lugs are in good condition and aren’t bent.
Caseback:
The rear of the case is solid and is in good condition with only light surface scratches and some tarnishing, as expected with age.
Strap:
The watch is on a leather strap for fixed lugs, held in place with metal tabs.
Movement:
It is a 15 jewel Swiss lever movement with finger bridge layout. It has perlage finishing beneath the balance.
The service history is unknown and the watch would likely benefit from a service. It has a daily gain of +140 seconds, with an amplitude of 205 degrees and a beat error of 0.9m/s.
Case dimensions:
Case width: 34mm
Case width with crown: 40mm
Case length: 34mm
Case length lug to lug: 42mm
Case Depth: 11mm
Lug width: 10mm