WWI Swiss Sterling Silver Telephone Dial Trench Watch c1915 Mechanical SS489

Rare WWI-era Swiss manual-wind trench wristwatch featuring an unusual hinged “telephone dial” shrapnel guard with twelve circular viewing apertures. Opening the protective cover reveals a white enamel dial with applied gold-tone Arabic numerals, outer minute scale, decorative hands, and subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock.

The case is clearly stamped 0.925 silver and carries matching case number 5333 on the inner case components. The Swiss-made mechanical movement is housed in a hinged sterling silver case with fixed wire lugs. The distinctive protective telephone-dial guard was designed to allow the time to remain partially visible while shielding the crystal and dial.

Detail: Swiss manual-wind mechanical movement; 0.925 sterling silver hinged case; matching case no. 5333; telephone-dial shrapnel guard; enamel Arabic numeral dial; subsidiary seconds; fixed wire lugs; original aged leather strap.
Size: 35mm case; approximately 40mm including lugs; strap adjusts approximately 7–8".
Weight: 35.2g total watch weight including movement and strap.
Condition: Antique condition with expected age-related patina, tarnish, surface wear, and wear to the leather strap. Dial and case show visible age consistent with an early 20th-century watch. Mechanical service history and timekeeping accuracy are not documented. Please review all photographs carefully.
Era: Circa 1915–1920 / WWI era
Material: Case marked 0.925 sterling silver
Case Number: 5333
Movement: Swiss manual-wind mechanical
Maker: Unsigned / unidentified
SKU: SS489

Price: $2,489