Here we have a classic 1940s watch, manufactured by Helvetia watch company, with a shock protected in-house calibre 82c movement. It has a 32mm chrome plated case which has a smooth flow to it with the flat top and sides. To the right is the slim crown which is neat. The silver dial has a satin finish, with black signing. The minute dashes are around the exterior, with the Arabic numerals alternating with gold dot markers. The numerals are nicely stylised with the swooping font, having a curved 4. The Helvetia signing is in the classic font during the era, with the sunken sub-second dial sitting above 6 O’clock. It has grained concentric circles which have a sunburst finish in the light. It has clear single second graduations and 15 second arabic markers. It is signed Swiss made to the base. The hands are of stick style with the gold tone matching the dot hour markers. The sub-second is an interesting design, without counterbalance. The case back is Stainless Steel and is signed as being made in England by ‘BWC’ (British Watch Case Co).
 
Inside is the calibre 82C movement, which was manufactured in-house by Helvetia. It was introduced in the mid 1940s and had an improved setting level, crown wheel and shock protection. It is a 15-jewel manual wind calibre with a beat rate of 18,000 BPH. It has been recently serviced and is keeping time to within 20 seconds variation a day.
 
This is a neatly designed classic 1940s watch, with a good quality in-house movement with shock protection. Recently serviced and ready to enjoy wearing.
 
Helvetia
Helvetia watchcompant dates back to 1848 with Louis Brands. By 1880 Louis and his brother set up a watch manufacturing business called La Generale Watch Co (General Watch Company). The watches incorporated the new Swiss lever movement in 1885, allowing them to produce timepieces accurate to within 30 seconds a day. By 1898 they were the largest producer of watchs in Switzerland. 
 
Omega had a financial position in General Watch Co at the start of the 20th century, but relinquished this in 1911, allowing the company to be fully independent. From the late 1920s the company adopted the ‘Helvetia Watch Company’ name and began to mark movements and watches as this. The main importers of Helvetia into the UK during the period was Robert pringle and Sons, of London. 
 
Helvetia were leaders in watchmaking technology and filed patents for shock protection in movement in 1929, a waterproof crystal in 1931 and anti-shock movement mounting in 1933. They also developed centra sweep second movements, calendar watches and Stop Seconds chronographs in this period. 
The company was a well known provider of wristwatches for the German armed forces during WW2, marked with a ‘DH’, or ‘DI H’ on the case back. 
 
The companys production rose post war and this period is widely seen as Helvetias best. Many watches they produced were larger than average for the era, with central seconds. They also offered military style watches to cater for the large market of ex-servicemen. In-house movement production continued throughout the 50s and 60s.
 
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below. A further condition report is below.
 
Dial: 
The dial is original and is in good condition. It is a silver satin tone with the black signing and alternating gold dot markers. It has the sunken sub-second dial. It has some marking to the edge between 11 and 12 O’clock.
 
Hands: 
The hands are original and are in good condition for the age. They are a gold tone, of stick style. They have some light marking associated with age.
 
Glass: 
The acrylic crystal is a replacement which is in perfect condition.  
 
Crown: 
The crown is chrome plated and is original. It has marking and brassing associated with age.
 
Case:
The case is chrome plated and is in decent condition for the age. The case has a polished finish to the top of the bezel, the lugs and the sides of the case. There are small scratches all over, as expected with age and wear. There is brassing in areas to the case.
 
Caseback:
The snap on case back is original. It is in good condition with clear engraving and the lightly brushed finish still visible. It does have light surface scratching associated with age.
 
Strap:
The watch comes on a period leather strap. It is in good condition and is soft, with plenty of life left in it.
 
Movement: 
The movement is a Helvetia 82C. It is a 15-jewel manual wind calibre, which has a beat rate of 18,000 BPH and a 40 hour power reserve. It also benefits from shock protection.
The movement has been recently serviced and is keeping time to within + 20 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 320 degrees and a beat error of 2.8m/s.
 
Case Dimensions:
Case width: 32mm
Case width with crown: 33.25mm 
Case length: 31.8mm 
Case length lug to lug: 41mm
Case Depth: 11mm
Lug width: 16mm