This is an antique French open face Paul Garnier pocket watch.
It is a medium sized pocket watch, measuring approximately 51mm in diameter/ 16.5mm in thickness, front to back.The case is silver in color, perhaps nickel silver and displays a bit of wear on the case back. The front crystal bezel is screw set. There looks to be a crack in the bezel at the 4 minutes past 12 o'clock position. (see pictures)
The back of the case is hinged and opens like hunter case. Inside there is a hinge set dust cover. On the outside of the dust cover it is stamped No. 24906. "Paul Garnier" "Horloger De La Marine" "Paris".
The inside of the dust cover has some demaskeening and there is a number stamped. The number is "4696084" over "36" and the letter "K"
The dial of this watch is white porcelain, with sunk seconds dial, black roman numerals marking the hours. The seconds dial is marked with arabic numerals marked at 20 second intervals. The dial is chipped/hairline cracked in two places, between the 11 and 12 o'clock marks, and 7 o'clock mark. (see pictures)
The spade style hour, and plank style with needle tipped minute hands are blued steel, the sweep seconds hand is black with a triangular aft end. This watch works, and seems to be keeping good time, but it will benefit from a cleaning to get to keeping constant time.
We have read that Paul Granier pocket watches are the time pieces that were supplied to the French Navy during the First World War. I wish I could provide more information about the movement, but there is not much information out there. Please, feel free to contact us if you have any information to add.
The works:
This watchworks is serial #3963606, date of manufacture approximately 1911.
Grade:Unknown
Model:Unknown
Size:13s
Jewels:Unknown(Ruby) 4 visible
Jewel Set: Gold Chaton Screw-set
Movement Configuration: Open Face
Finish: Brass
Inlay Color: N/A
Movement setting:Pendant
Plate: 3/4
Double Roller: Unknown
Barrel: Unknown
Regulator: Unknown (Breguet?)
Hairspring: Unknown
Dial: Sunk
Adjusted: Unknown
Adjusted to position: Unknown
Adjusted # of positions: Unknown
Adjusted to Temp: Unknown
Adjusted to Isochronism:Unknown
Railroad Grade: Unknown
The case is stamped with an "M" in a circle, with the serial Number "4696084" the number "35 over "K"
If you are a Horologist who collects European pocket watches, and enjoys tinkering, cleaning and bringing vintage timepieces back to good running condition, this watch will be a very nice addition to your collection.