Here we have a classic of the Art Deco design period, the Duo-dial or Doctors watch. The term Doctors watch and Duo-dial refer to the separation of the second hand into its own independent section on the dial. This was useful for the timing of events but was also very aesthetically appealing. This has led to such watches being rather collectable and valuable.
This particular example from Clinton Watch Co was sold in the U.S. market originally. It has a well-proportioned curved rectangular case, measuring 22.5mm x 31.5mm, with a lug-to-lug length of 42.5mm. The case is chrome plated to the front, which is in good condition, with a Stainless-Steel back. The Stainless back is signed Roamer to the inside.
The silvered dial is split, with seconds track to the bottom and hours and minutes to the top. The Arabic numerals are well designed with a stylised font from the period, which catches the eye. The thermally blued Breguet style hands catch the light well. Inside, the manual wind ETA cal 717 movement has been recently serviced to ensure accurate timekeeping. The original crystal is discoloured with age.
The dial is in average original condition. It has a silvered powder base tone which has ages with darker spots throughout. The top section of the dial has a square railroad minute track. The numerals are nicely stylised Arabic numbers in a black tone.
The bottom section of the dial has a sub-second circle, with a box around it and lines marking the 5 second graduations. This is a precision watch designed to be clearly legible at a glance.
The hour and minute hands are original and are of Breguet style. They are in good condition with no bending and minimal corrosion. They have the original thermally blued finish which has a good shine. The sub-second hand is thermally blued but may be a replacement due to the distance from the second track.
The glass acrylic crystal is original. It has discoloured with age. It is different to cut a new acrylic crystal due to the nature of the complex curve. The original crystal is in good condition with only light surface scratching.
The crown appears to be original matching the profile of the watch and the size. It is Stainless Steel and is in good condition.
The movement is an ETA 717 which is manual wind, with a jewel count of 17. The movement has been recently serviced and is in good condition cosmetically, keeping excellent time for a watch of this vintage. It has a daily gain of +5 seconds, with an amplitude of 331 degrees and a beat error of 2.4 m/s.
History of Clinton Watch Co
The Clinton Watch Company was established by Hyman Wein, a Russian immigrant living in Chicago, in 1922. The name was trademarked in the U.S. in 1938. Wein favoured the importation of tried and tested Swiss movements to power his watches. Cases too also came from Switzerland. These were then assembled and sold in the United States. This particular case is signed by Roamer, a Swiss maker known for their exportation of watches.
The “Doctors” watch
The term Doctors watch and Duo-dial refer to the separation of the second hand into its own independent section on the dial. This section needed to be large to allow the seconds to be understood at a glance. As such half of the dial is devoted to the seconds function. The idea was that seconds were of upmost importance to a professional such as a doctors, with the ability to time events, such as taking a pulse.
This was popular throughout the late 1920s and 1930s, with the Rolex Duo-dial Prince model being the most famous example in the 1920s. The popularity of the Rolex duo-dial Prince led many watch companies to create their own takes on the duo-dial.
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
Dial:
The dial is in average original condition. It has a silvered powder base tone which has ages with darker spots throughout. The top section of the dial has a square railroad minute track. The numerals are nicely stylised Arabic numbers in a black tone.
The bottom section of the dial has a sub-second circle, with a box around it and lines marking the 5 second graduations. This is a precision watch designed to be clearly legible at a glance.
Hands:
The hour and minute hands are original and are of Breguet style. They are in good condition with no bending and minimal corrosion. They have the original thermally blued finish which has a good shine. The sub-second hand is thermally blued but may be a replacement due to the distance from the second track.
Glass:
The glass acrylic crystal is original. It has discoloured with age. It is different to cut a new acrylic crystal due to the nature of the complex curve. The original crystal is in good condition with only light surface scratching.
Crown:
The crown appears to be original matching the profile of the watch and the size. It is Stainless Steel and is in good condition.
Case:
The front of the case is chrome plated. It is in good condition for chrome this old with only some signs of wear to the plating where it has scratched. The case is neatly curved, as was tradition with rectangular watches in the 1930s. The top of the case has a flat face with a polished finish. This falls away to a facetted face that runs into the case sides. The case sides have a brushed finish.
Caseback:
The case back is Stainless Steel and is in good condition, with light surface scratching. The original grained finish remains. It is signed Stainless Steel back with the serial number 1919. The inside of the case back is signed Roamer Watch Co, Swiss.
Strap:
The watch is on a new leather strap, with metal tabs for fixed lugs. It will fit up to an 8 inch wrist diameter.
Movement:
The movement is an ETA 717 which is manual wind, with a jewel count of 17. The movement has been recently serviced and is in good condition cosmetically, keeping excellent time for a watch of this vintage. It has a daily gain of +5 seconds, with an amplitude of 331 degrees and a beat error of 2.4 m/s.
Case dimensions:
Case width: 22.5mm
Case width with crown: 24.5mm
Case length: 31.5mm
Case length lug to lug: 42.5mm
Case Depth: 9.4mm
Lug width: 18mm