1914 gold vintage International Watch Company (I.W.C.) watch

An 18ct gold vintage I.W.C. (International Watch Company) wristwatch. The Borgel case measures 35 mm in diameter and is hallmarked London 1914. The Swiss movement is signed S&Co. The white enamel dial has Roman numerals with a subsidiary seconds dial. The dial is signed IWC Schaffhausen above the centre.

Francois Borgel designed these cases and patented them in October 1891 in Geneva, with a Swiss Brevet or patent number 4001. They were then patented in London in November 1891 with patent number 20422. The Borgel case was an early design to try to make wrist watches resistant to dust and moisture. It is a one piece case, where the movement and bezel are mounted on a threaded ring which screws into the case from the front. Borgel cases continued to be manufactured after his death in 1912, initially by his daughter Louisa, and later by Taubert & Fils. Taubert & Fils was a renown Geneva-based case makers and specialized in water-resistant cases.