Swiss very thin gold enamel pocket watch Circa 1925

Open faced pocket watch by L. Braunschweig / Election SA
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A very fine, thin gold enamel Swiss pocket watch “Pas de grâce pour le vaincu”, circa 1925.
18-carat gold case with reeded band and push back, the bezel chased with oak leaf decoration, the back side with a polychrome enamel medallion depicting a Roman gladiator standing before the Emperor victorious over his defeated opponents, the armour highlighted with coloured paillons, inscription Pas de grâce pour le vaincu (No mercy for the defeated), signed E. V.
Signed silvered dial with Arabic numerals, auxiliary seconds and blued spade hands. Rhodium-plated bridge movement with “Geneva striping” decoration and screw compensation balance.
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Diameter: 45 mm
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Weight: 50 g
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Signed: Election
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Election, Swiss watch manufacturer
The factory “A. Braunschweig” was in 1848 by Alphonse Braunschweig in La Chaux-de-Fonds founded. From 1860 to 1894, the company was transformed into “L. Braunschweig” and later into “Les Fils de L. Braunschweig”. In 1888 the brand name Mentor was registered. In 1905 the company was converted into a public limited company. In Hamburg, there was a branch with the name A. Braunschweig & Co. During this time; the brand name Election was created. 1906 died, Alphonse Brunswick Junior unexpectedly, and their successors were 22 years Arnold Braunschweig and his brother, 21, Lucien Braunschweig. A few years later, the youngest brother Georges Braunschweig joined them.

At the Bern exhibition in 1914, the company won a “Grand Prix” in 1916; the company was renamed “Les Fils de L. Braunschweig, Fabrique Election”. In 1918, like his father, Arnold Braunschweig died unexpectedly at only 34 years old. In 1920 the name “Manufacture des Montres Election” was also listed. The company was known for its high-quality wristwatches in the twenties and thirties. The Marvin company took over Election around 1950.
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Lucien Braunschweig, Swiss watch manufacturer
Lucien (Raphaël) Braunschweig was born on August 20, 1885 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. He was the son of Alphonse Braunschweig and Adrienne Bloch. Lucien was the brother of Arnold Braunschweig and Georges Braunschweig. Sister Marthe married the watch manufacturer Georges Ditisheim.

After his father’s terrible death in 1906 at only 21 years old, he became a Director at the Election Company. Lucien married Rose Ulmann (1898-1986), and three children were born from the marriage.

Lucien (Raphaël) Braunschweig died on July 11, 1958, in La Chaux-de-Fonds at 72.