Swiss silver rare Art Nouveau “Sector Watch” Circa 1910

Pocket watch with retrograde display
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A rare Art Nouveau watch with retrograde display “Sector Watch”, made by the Record Watch Company in Tramelan, Switzerland, circa 1910. This watch features a numbered, fan shaped silver case whose back lid is decorated with seven radiating panels of alternating polished and intricately engraved textures, all tapering down to an organic openwork loop base, and a prominent ribbed winding crown. The white enamel retrograde dial features large Arabic hour numerals from 1 to 12 o’clock, an outer minute track with Arabic 5 minute numerals of which the quarters are accented in red and blued steel hands. The asymmetrical, gilt bar Swiss mechanical movement is equipped with a lever escapement and a retrograde flyback mechanism which was patented by the Record Watch Co. around 1900 for these triangular “Sector” pocket watches.
The cuvette and dial are marked “Sector Watch” and the movement is signed.
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Dimensions: 73 x 60 mm
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Weight: 102 g
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Signed: Record Watch Co. Tramelan
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Pocket watches, like the one presented here, are very rare and sought after.

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Record Watch Company
Founded in 1903 in Tramelan, Switzerland, by a group of investors, the Record Watch Company’s primary goal was to produce the Sector Watch. This was a highly unusual triangular pocket watch with a retrograde display, where the hands jump back to zero after reaching the end of the scale. While only a few thousand were made due to manufacturing complexity, the Sector remains a highly prized collector’s item.

Record became the first Swiss watchmaker to have its pocket watches officially approved for U.S. railways in 1960.

Shortly after, in 1961, Longines acquired a majority stake in the company.

– Double Branding: For several decades, watches were produced under the dual name

   “Record Longines” and often featured ETA based movements.

– Dissolution: Following the acquisition of Longines by the Swatch Group, the Record

   brand was officially closed in 1991.