For sale we have a classic early 1950s tool watch by Rensie, in a 30mm Stainless Steel case. It has a lovely full Steel polished case design, with a stylish domed crown. The white dial is a clear and classic design, with luminous Arabic numerals and 1/5 second graduations. It has thermally blued lumed hands, with a nicely designed central second hand. The notches screw back is marked as ‘Incabloc, Waterproof, Stainless Steel’. It has incabloc shock protection, with a 17-jewel manual wind AS 1187 movement inside. It is keeping time within +30 seconds a day.
The classic mid-century tool watch is a design I have always enjoyed. Simple, refined, accurate and purposeful. This was your daily wear, your best friend that kept the time for you through thick and thin. They were typically more robust watches, with full Stainless cases, screw backs, waterproof properties, shock protection and central second hands, with 1/5th second graduated seconds track. They were designed to very clear tell you the time.
We love this example due to its clean and compact design. It is in excellent condition with the original polished case finish, sharp lines and stylish and functional domed crown.
The dial is pleasing with its powdered finish and light speckled patina. The hour markers are original with the radium luminous in-fill. The seconds track is clean and clear, with the Rensie Incabloc 17 Jewels signing. The Index style hands are lovely with a bright, uncorroded thermally blued tone, which catches the light. The design of the central second and is counterbalance is beautiful. A really enjoyable watch of a good quality.
The watch was sold in the US market, as indicated by the EOP import code on the movement. Alpina were a distributer for Rensie watches in the US.
Rensie Watches:
Rensie Watch Company were founded in West Germany in the 1940s. It was founded by Paul V. Eisner and ‘Rensie’ was his name spelled backwards. Eisner had an import company named Paul V. Eisner and company that was established in New York.
The company seems to have worked with Alpina closely, with some examples of co-signed dials. The EOP import code found on movements also relates to Alpina, being their code for distribution in the US.
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 for the age. It has a white powder finish which has some light speckled patination. The hour markers are good, with aged luminous in-fill. The signing is good and clear, with clear seconds track.
Hands:
The hands are original. They are of Index style, with the original luminous in-fill. They are thermally blued and have a bright shine. The central second hand is also original.
Glass:
The acrylic crystal is a replacement which is in good condition with no obvious marking.
Crown:
The crown is original and is in good condition.
Case:
The case is Stainless Steel and is in good condition for the age. It has a polished finish with light surface scratching associated with ageing. The bevels to the lugs are good and defined with the light brushed finish to the sides.
Caseback:
The case back is formed of steel and is in good condition with a circular grained finish. It has light surface scratching associated with age. The engravings are clear.
Strap:
The watch comes on a new Nato style strap.
Movement:
The movement is an AS calibre 1187. It has a jewel count of 17 and is manually wound. It has a frequency of 18,000 BPH and Incabloc shock protection.
The service history is unknown, but the movement is cosmetically clean and is keeping good time. It’s keeping time to +30 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 220 degrees and a beat error of 2.9m/s.
Case dimensions:
Case width: 30mm
Case width with crown: 32mm
Case length: 30.5mm
Case length lug to lug: 38mm
Case Depth: 10mm
Lug width: 16mm