For sale we have a fantastic example of a 1952 Tissot Salmon dial watch with gold foil numerals, of a Calatrava style. It has a chrome plated case which has a horn lug design and measures 33mm in diameter. It has a steel snap on cash back with brushed finishing. Inside it is marked with the case reference 6436-12. It has a manual wind calibre 27B movement which is running well. The watch comes in a rare original box, with original guarantee which shows the watch was purchased on Christmas eve in 1952. 
 
The case measures 33mm in width, but the watch has a significant presence with the horn lugs giving a lug-to-lug measurement of 41.5mm. The tapering of the lugs makes it comfortable on the wrist, alongside the slim depth of 9.5mm. It is chrome plated, which has some light wear on the tips of the lugs, which can be expected with age. It has a good shine to the case. It has a snap on case back which has a brushed finish. Inside it is signed with the reference 6436-12 with Tissot signing. 
 
The dial is eye-catching with its honey tone dial. It is an unusual colour which is close to a salmon dial, but slightly more golden. The hour markers are gold foil Arabic numerals which add a touch of class to the dial, as they catch the light. The sub-second dial is large and inset into the dial, with simple dash markers, making the dash minute markers around the outside. 
The Tissot logo is in a lovely font, whilst the antimagnetique signing below is clear. It is a pleasing and clear Calatrava style. The hands are original in a silver tone and they fit the design well with their slim profile.
 
Inside is the Tissot calibre 27B movement which is in very good cosmetic condition. The finishing is immaculate, with sunburst finish to the winding wheels and brushed finish to the bridges with polished bevelled edges. It is a robust and reliable manual wind calibre with antimagnetic properties. It operates at a frequency of 18,000 BPH and has a 44-hour power reserve. It is keeping time to within 20 seconds a day. 
 
The original box is rare and beautiful, in very good condition. It has a white base section, with a beetroot-coloured curved top. It has a brown velvet insert, with a silk inner lining, with gold Tissot signing. Hiding away under the velvet insert for all of these years, is the original paperwork which is fully signed. It has not aged a day, being kept out of the light. The paper is still a lovely white tone. The serial number and reference match the watch, with the date of purchase being 24/12/1952. It was purchased from Ham & Huddys jeweller and opticians in Newton Abbot.
 
This is a rare and desirable example which has so many intriguing design touches. With it being a full set with such a lovely box and Christmas eve date of purchase, this further adds to the charm.
 
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 good condition. It has one slight mark between 9 and 10 O’clock. It has gold foil numerals which have some slight marking. Overall it is well preserved and the signing and tone is good and even.
 
Hands: 
The hands are original and have some corrosion with age. 
 
Glass: 
The crystal is a replacement and is in perfect condition.
 
Crown: 
The Stainless crown is original and is in good condition with light surface scratching.  
 
Case:
The case is chrome plated and is in good overall condition. The polished finish is original and has light surface scratching associated with age. There is some minor wear to the chrome plate to the top of the lugs. 
 
Caseback:
The snap on back is Stainless Steel and is in very good condition for the age. It has a neat, brushed finish with polished outside. It has light surface scratching.
 
Strap: 
The watch comes on a new leather strap.
 
Movement: 
The movement is a Tissot calibre 27B which is manual wind, with sub-second. It has a frequency of 18,000 BPH and a power reserve of 44 hours.
 
The service history is unknown, but the movement is in good condition cosmetically and functionally. It’s keeping time to within +/- 20 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 210 degrees and a beat error of 0.1m/s.
 
Case dimensions: 
Case width: 33mm
Case width with crown: 35mm
Case length: 33mm
Case length lug to lug: 41.5mm 
Depth: 9.5mm
Lug width: 17mm