EBERHARD. A REALLY RARE AND UNUSUAL WOMAN’S 14K YELLOW GOLD MANUAL VINTAGE WRISTWATCH Model: Hermetic Date: Circa 1920’s Case reference: 89276 Movement: Signed, 16-Jewels Dial: Signed Eberhard Chronometer, white enamel, black Arabic numerals, black outer minute division, subsidiary dial for seconds at the 6 o’clock position, blued hands Case: Signed Double Boitier Brevet, polished 14K yellow gold double hermetic case, 14K gold screw down bezel, inner case with snap on 14K gold back, No. 322615 inside both cases Strap: Brown diamond leather Hirsch strap with gilt buckle Size: 28.5mm The first patented hermetic watch case ever produced was created by Jean Finger of Longeau, in Berne, Switzerland in January 1921. Registered with a patent number 89276, the watch came with a protective box ( Montre a remontoire avec boitier protecteur ), allowing thus to place the watch inside a bigger case with a screw-down bezel and making it 100% hermetic. Different brands adopted this design and one of them was Eberhard, using a variety of materials. Our model in 14K gold is a rare example. The design was such a success that Mr. Wilsdorf (Rolex) bought the patent to use it for his 1 st Hermetic Watch (please see Lots 15 and 21 in our sale) in 1924, causing the other brands to discontinue their productions. That meant, that Eberhard was only able to produce watches with this design for less than 3 years.