Here we have a beautiful mid-century watch, with two important British names attached. This 1947 Asprey watch is a classic 28mm 9ct gold cushion case with an excellent original dial, with thermally blued and luminous hands and hour markers. The case back has a personal engraving for 26 years of service with the Fairey Aviation Co LTD. The case is of a good quality, manufactured by Dennison. Inside, the manual wind Marc Favre movement is in very good condition, having been recently serviced. 
The watch comes in its original box. It is very unusual for a box to have both the retailer name inside and the presentation companies logo and name to the outside of the box. This indicates the importance and prestige of Fairey as a customer to Asprey.
 
The dial is a very good and pleasing example. It has a good mixture of texture and complexity. It has a dark silver minute track, which catches the light well. This is mirrored with the sub-second chapter ring which also shimmers in the light. The clear Arabic numerals are a bold font, with the original luminous in-fill. The Asprey signing is neatly applied in Italics below 12 O’clock. To the base, the dial is signed Swiss Made. 
The thermally blued hands are of index style and are a pleasing dark blue tone, which shines in the light. The radium luminous paint has aged to a dark orange tone and is intact. 
 
The 9ct gold cushion case measures 28mm x 28mm, which is petite by modern standards, but is gents size from the period. This is a very comfortable and understated size of watch to wear. It is a classic mid-century cushion case which has polished finishes and curves that interact beautifully with the light. The yellow gold tone is even and bright, as is associated with the quality of a Dennison case. The fixed bar lugs are good and strong. It has British hallmarking for Birmingham assay office, dating to 1947.
 
Inside is the Marc Favre 15 jewel manual wind movement. It is in very good condition, having been recently serviced. It has a strong amplitude and is keeping time to within +40 seconds a day.
 
The case back has a personal engraving to I.J. Thompson, in appreciation of 26 years of service with the Fairey Aviation Co Ltd, December 22nd 1949.
 
This is a mid-century, gold presentation watch. Some people enjoy the engravings due to the history. Others dislike them as they permanently brand a watch, rending it a typecast example. 
We enjoy these presentation watches for what they represent and the importance of respect and appreciation between employers and employees. They are even better in our eyes, when they embody collaboration between important British firms such as this. We see the gold presentation watch as forming a very important part of wristwatch history in Britain up until the tradition died out in the 1980s.
 
Overall, this is a very good example for its age, with a very clean and quality case and level of dial finishing. It comes with its rare original box, which is signed with the Fairey logo to the outside of the box. It also has the Asprey signing to the inside of the silk lining. A seemingly small detail, but it shows the importance of Fairey as a client to Asprey with presentation watches.
 
Asprey:
Asprey are a UK based designer, manufacturer and retailer of jewellery, silverware, home goods, leather goods, timepieces and books. Founded in 1781, they are one of the UKs finest providers of luxury goods. They have always had a wealth of royal and celebrity clients. Their flagship retail store is located in Mayfair. They have had Royal patronage since 1862, with the Royal Warrant granted by Queen Victoria. 
 
Asprey have many references and influences in film, with one of the biggest being the design of the Heart of the Ocean necklace, featured in the Titanic film. 
 
Such is their level of craftsmanship, they have their own diamond cut, the Asprey Cut, which can only be carried out by hand.
 
Fairey Aviation:
Founded in 1915, Fairey Aviation Company LTD was an important British aircraft manufacturer of the first half of the 20th century. 
They were based in Hayes in Middlesex, Heaton Chapel and RAF Ringway in Cheshire. They designed important military aircraft, including the Fairey III family, the Swordfish, Firefly and Gannet. It had a strong presence in the supply of naval aircraft, and also built bombers for the RAF. 
 
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
 
Dial: 
The dial is original and is in very good overall condition. The off-white tone is good. It has a dark silver tone minute track and sub-second track, which have a good shine. The hour markers have the original lume in-fill. The signing is good and clear. 
 
Hands: 
The hands are thermally blued with the original lume in-fill. They are in good condition with some corrosion.
 
Glass: 
The acrylic crystal is a replacement and is in very good condition. 
 
Crown: 
The crown is a later replacement but is in good condition and fits the size of the watch well.
 
Case:
The case is 9ct gold and is in good condition. The polished finish is good with light surface scratching. The gold wire lugs are good, sturdy and straight. There aren’t unsightly gouge marks from opening.
 
Caseback:
The 9ct gold solid case back is in good condition. It has a polished finish and has light scratching and marking associated with age. It closes tightly and holds the movement well. 
 
It has a personal engraving. There is scratching to the name, as if someone has tried to scratch over it. 
 
Strap: 
The watch is on a new leather strap for fixed lugs with metal tabs. The buckle is new and is gold tone.
 
Movement: 
The movement is a 15-jewel manual wind movement by Marc Favre. It has a frequency of 18,000 BPH.
 
The watch has been recently serviced. It is keeping time to within +40 seconds deviation a day, with an amplitude of 280 degrees and a beat error of 0.1m/s.
 
Case dimensions: 
Case width: 28mm
Case width with crown: 29.25mm
Case length: 28mm
Case length lug to lug: 30mm
Case Depth: 8.75mm
Lug width: 16mm