Swiss silver open faced military pocket watch Circa 1920

Silver watch made for the U.S. Corps of Engineers
–
A Swiss silver keyless military pocket watch by Ulysse Nardin, Le Locle & Geneva, circa 1920. Made for the U.S. Corps of Engineers, caseback engraved with the mention Property of/Corps of Engineers/U.S.A./No. 11491. The case is made by Huguenin Frères, Le Locle. White enamel dial with suspended luminescent Arabic hour numerals, an outer minute track, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued steel skeleton hands.
A gilded brass movement with going barrel, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensated balance with gold poising screws and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve, polished steel index regulator. The dial and case are signed. The movement is stamped H.M./Co.
–
Diameter: 51 mm
–
Weight: 86 g
–
Signed: Ulysse Nardin  Le Locle & Geneva
–
Corps of Engineers, U.S.A.
In 1918, several Swiss horological manufacturers (Vacheron Constantin, IWC, Ulysse Nardin, etc.) started the production of pocket watches, with or without chronograph, intended for the “Corps of Engineers” of the United States Army. Following the U.S. entry into the war in 1917, the Americans set up a purchasing office for equipment for their expeditionary forces, the American Expeditionary Forces, which ordered several thousand watches until 1920. Especially designed for engineers, they are made of stainless steel, withstand temperature differences and have luminescent numerals and hands.