Today's offering showcases a this fantastic large and all-original c. 1900's - 1910's single-button Heuer trench chronograph with enamel dial.

Chronograph watches were originally designed as precision instruments, serving the needs of doctor's, sporting professionals, and those who demanded a high level of precision in their timing. As technology progressed, they were adopted by pilots and auto racers. Equipped with special functions to aid the wearer in the task at hand, these fine mechanisms played an integral role in their owner's lives.

This rare Ed Heuer & Co. trench chronograph watch is an extremely early example of one of their wristworn chrongraphs - it's a wonderful piece of history from the early days of wristwatches with a very good possiblity of having seen use during the Great War.

In the first decade after the turn of the twentieth century when someone made reference to a man's watch they most often meant one object - a larger, timing instrument kept in the pocket.

When the first World War erupted, demand rose sharply for these novel wristwatches as Allied servicemen needed a more suitable way to a access their vital timepieces. But this special wrist-worn Heuer may have even been made before that.

Often referred to as a Trench Watch, watches like this one enabled an officer to coordinate his men's activities with precision with just a glance at his wrist. With its circular case, easy to read porcelain dial with large numerals, and large "onion" winding crown, it clearly showcases its resemblance to a pocket watch.

Born before the days of constant brand focused marketing, very early Heuer wristwatches were often not signed on the dial. Only the movement and the case were signed, as is the case with this one.

We believe these more than a century old Heuers are underappreciated: While Heuer prices climbed for nearly two decades, values have risen quite as much for these, yet finding an original one is particularly difficult. Its military style is exceedingly cool, and it's one of the first wristwatches Heuer ever made.

The centerpiece of the watch is its beautiful original porcelain dial with large luminous numerals and distinctive "up and down" arrangement of subdials.

We were fortunate to acquire it in original condition down to all of the original and deeply toned luminous.

Its large 39mm sterling silver case is fully signed and in honest original condition. It has developed a light patina that we have left on for the sale.

Its enamel dial presents in very pleasing all-original condition. It has one hairline that's faintly visible to the naked eye, and a couple of other tiny ones visible only with magnification.

One of our Master Watchmakers has fully serviced the watch which consists of fully disassembling the movement, carefully inspecting each part, working on one of the eccentric screws, replacing any overly worn components, reassembling and lubricating the movement, putting the watch back into beat, and extensive timing testing and regulation (a $1295 value).

The chronograph resets crisply and to a perfect zero. While we invested an extensive amount of time and high level expertise into the servicing to get it running as accurately as it can be made to, please understand that because of the watch's age, timekeeping may differ by approx. 4-5 seconds per hour or so.

Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. international warranty on the movement and its function and a full-page custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity.

Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.

Country of origin: Switzerland
Year built: c. 1900's - 1910's
Functions:  Hours, Minutes, Chronograph timing, Subsidiary Seconds
Designed for: Men
Case material: Sterling silver
Case markings (inside): E. Heuer & Co., Swiss, .925
Case condition:  In honest original condition. It has developed a light patina that we have left on for the sale.
Dimensions: 39mm wide (without crown), 45mm long lug tip-to-tip
Dial: White enamel with large luminous dauphine Arabic indexes, outer 1/5 second markings, original, excellent all-original condition. It has one hairline that's faintly visible to the naked eye, and a couple of other tiny ones visible only with magnification.
Hands: Original luminous blue steel "syringe" hour and minute hands
Band: Leather, designed for fixed lug use, brand new and unworn. It could also be well-suited for a pig-skin strap.
Width between lugs: 12mm
Movement type: Signed E. Heuer, likely Landeron, single button operation, capable of timing events up to 30 minutes in duration, 1/5 second register, crown wheel and carrying arm
Crystal: Mineral glass, excellent condition
Serviced: One of our Master Watchmakers has fully serviced the watch which consists of fully disassembling the movement, carefully inspecting each part, working on one of the eccentric screws, replacing any overly worn components, reassembling and lubricating the movement, putting the watch back into beat, and extensive timing testing and regulation (a $1295 value).
Warranty: 1-year C.O.T. international warranty. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.
Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity
Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all of our watches. If you are in any way unsatisfied with the watch we will fully refund the purchase price anytime within 7 days after the watch has been received. Our goal is to exceed our client's expectations throughout the buying experience.

All watches are packaged carefully and mailed double boxed in specially constructed, reinforced shipping boxes designed for high value items. All watches are sent fully insured with signature required. Most of our domestic shipping is done through FedEx. At times we will also use USPS Express Mail, and we can accommodate most requests for your preferred carrier. International shipments are sent USPS International Express Mail or FedEx.

The purchase price will be the declared value of the merchandise on any required customs forms. The payment of all customs duties, tariffs, and taxes are the responsibility of the buyer.

Also note that water resistance of vintage watches can no longer be guaranteed and is not covered under the watch's warranty. We do not recommend getting a vintage watch wet, even one that was originally designed to be waterproof.

To get an idea of how this watch will look on the wrist, please use the Watch Sizing Guide

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