EBERHARD. A LADIES 14K YELLOW GOLD MANUAL WIND 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, blued hands, subsidiary dial for seconds at the 6 o’clock position Case: Signed 'Double Boitier Brevet', polished 14K yellow gold double hermetic case, 14K gold screw down bezel, inner case with snap on 14K yellow gold back, No. 322XXX 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 patent number 89276, the watch came with a protective box (Montre a remontoire avec boitier protecteur), thus allowing the watch to be placed 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 (founder of Rolex) bought the patent to use it for his 1st Hermetic Watch (please see Lots 15 and 21 in our sale) in 1924, causing the other brands to discontinue their productions. This meant that Eberhard was only able to produce watches with this design for less than 3 years.