Swiss marksman’s watch with an 18 carat gold relief case Circa 1924

Gold marksman’s chronometer 
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An extremely rare marksman’s watch made for the 1924 Federal Shooting Festival in Aarau by Ulysse Nardin in Locle & Genève, Switzerland, circa 1924. This open faced watch is crafted by Huguenin from 18 carat gold and the cuvette is inscribed Eidgenössisches Schützenfest Aarau 1924 Tir Federal. The white enamel dial has black Arabic hour numerals 1-12, an outer minute track, outermost blue Arabic 24 hours, a subsidiary seconds dial with black Arabic numerals at 6 o’clock and blued steel moon hands. The numbered movement has a chronometer escapement with a fine adjusting device. Dial, cuvette and movement are signed.
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Weight: 86 g
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Signed: Ulysse Nardin, Locle & Genève (dial and movement)

             Huguenin (relief on the back of the case)
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Ulysse Nardin SA

Ulysse Nardin SA is a Swiss luxury watchmaking company. Founded in 1846 in Le Locle, Switzerland bearing the name of its founder Ulysse Nardin. It has remained in continuous production since. The company became best known for manufacturing highly accurate marine chronometers (of which the anchor in the company logo is a reminder nowadays) used by over 50 of the world’s navies from the end of the 19^th century till 1950. Furthermore, pocket watches with complications such as moon phases, a perpetual calendar, repetition and an alarm function were produced. According to the last official report of Neuchâtel Observatory in Switzerland, Ulysse Nardin had won numerous awards and honours for its marine chronometers from 1846 to 1975, including 4324 certificates, 2411 special prizes and 18 gold medals at International exhibitions.

Ulysse was born in 1823 in Le Locle, Switzerland. He first trained as an apprentice horologist under his father, Léonard-Fédéric Nardin and perfected his skills under the tutelage of Frédéric-William Dubois and Louis JeanRichard-dit-Bressel. Two master watchmakers who were experts in precision watches and whose fame extended beyond the mountains of Neuchâtel. Ulysse established his own workshop at the age of 23. Despite growing up in the Jura mountains, he was fascinated by the sea and therefore produced nautical timekeeping instruments. The number of employees in 1900 was an impressive 300. The company was taken over and re invigorated in 1983 by Rolf W. Schnyder who transformed it into a profitable business. Since 2014, it has been a subsidiary of the French luxury group Kering. Ulysse Nardin has operated out of the same building headquartered in Le Locle since 1865.