For sale have a 1918 Birch & Gaydon silver Zenith trench watch from the great war period. It has a 35mm British and Swiss hallmarked case, with a screw bezel and solid case back. It has classic wire lugs and a dust protected crown. The black enamel dial is original, as are the unique handset with lumed sub-second hand. Inside the Zenith movement is in excellent condition, running well and keeping accurate time. 
 
During the great war Birch & Gaydon created three trench watch offerings, with the most expensive being the “Land & Water”. Birch & Gaydon were one of the very top London jewellers and only sold the best quality of items. The Land & Water has always been a well-known and desirable trench watch due to it being one of the earliest named models, with a great quality design and movement.
 
Birch & Gaydon were the principal retailer of Zenith watches in England, with Zenith having an office in London since 1914. The Land and Water name is thought to have come from the patriotic British newspaper of the same name, formed in 1914 to report on the progress of WW1.
 
The watch was advertised as being the ideal watch for Naval and Military officers due to its design features. A reliable Zenith movement with micrometer regulator, timed to all positions and temperature, a screw case to provide damp and dust proofing, luminous dial and hands and choice of black or white dial.
 
The case differs from a Borgel case. The bezel unscrews and once fully un-screwed, the movement comes with it. 
 
This example:
The main body of the case is solid, with wire lugs, with the coin edge bezel unscrewing to expose the movement. A classic trench style watch of good proportions, with a neat coin edge bezel and sturdy silver wire lugs. To the right of the case is the large crown tube and original crown. The inside of the case back has UK hallmarking for silver, from London assay office in 1918. The case has the makers mark ZW Co for Zenith watch company’s English arm. It also has Swiss hallmarking.
 
The dial is enamel and has some damage to the top layer to the left of centre. It is a black dial variation, which provides a great contrast and is aesthetically pleasing. It is clearly signed Birch & Gaydon LTD, Fenchurch Street, London, with Land & Water above the sub-second dial. The large Arabic numerals are white, with lume in-fill that is a modern replacement. The dash markers are simple around the exterior of the dial. The sub-second dial is inset, with a simple railroad track and Arabic markers for 10 second graduations, with a large dash for each 5 second graduation. 
 
The hands are original and have been re-lumed. They are of an excellent style, with the sub-second hand being unusual that it was larger and lumed. 
 
The watch is presented on a new old stock 1930s/40s Wristlaw leather strap for fixed lugs, held in place with metal tabs.
 
The movement is a 15-jewel calibre from Zenith dating to 1914. It has an excellent and unique micrometer adjustment system. The movement serial number dates it to 1914. Despite this being earlier than the watch, it was common that movements may have taken a while to have been cased in a watch, specifically during war time. It is manual wind and is in very good condition for the age. It has a daily gain of +45 seconds, with an amplitude of 330 degrees.
 
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
A further condition report is below.
 
Dial: 
The dial is enamel and has some damage to the top layer to the left of centre. The dials white signing is in good unworn condition. The numerals have been re-lumed. Apart from the central area of damage, the dial is good with no other fractures and no hairline cracks.
 
Hands: 
The hands are original and have been re-lumed. The hands have corroded with age and are a oxidised gold tone. The large lumed sub-second hand is also original.
 
Glass: 
The crystal is an acrylic replacement which is in very good condition. 
 
Crown: 
The crown is the original crown which fits as it should. 
 
Case:
Main body of the case is solid, with wire lugs, with the coin edge bezel unscrewing to expose the movement. The thread is also in good condition with it screwing down as it should. The lugs are in good condition and aren’t bent. 
 
Caseback:
The rear of the case is solid and is in good condition with only light surface scratches and some tarnishing, as expected with age. 
 
The inside of the case back has UK hallmarking for silver, from London assay office in 1918. The case has the makers mark ZW Co for Zenith watch company’s English arm. It also has Swiss hallmarking.
 
Strap: 
The watch is on a new old stock 1930s/40s Wristlaw leather strap for fixed lugs, held in place with metal tabs.
 
Movement: 
The movement is a 15 jewel calibre from Zenith dating to 1914. It is manual wind and is in very good condition for the age. 
 
The watch was serviced by its previous owner in the last three years. It has a daily gain of +45 seconds, with an amplitude of 330 degrees and a beat error of 0.5m/s.
 
Case dimensions: 
Case width: 35mm 
Case width with crown: 40mm 
Case length: 35mm 
Case length lug to lug: 38mm 
Case Depth: 11mm 
Lug width: 12mm