Swiss fine and unusual keyless precision watch Circa 1940

Deck watch in mahogany box
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A fine, rare and unusual Swiss sterling silver center seconds antimagnetic keyless precision watch with a stop feature for exact settings, made for naval use in the American market by Longines Watch Co in Saint-Imier, circa 1940. Accompanied by the gimballed mahogany deck box. The polished case with a reeded screw down bezel and back. The mahogany box with an applied brass signature plaque on the lid and an applied numbered plaque on the lower section, brass gimbals, and the watch fitted and secured by a brass ring with three hexagonal nuts. The black dial, marked GCT, has inner white 24 hour graduation, outer minute divisions with Arabic five minute numerals, gilt spade hands and a white seconds hand. The rhodium plated movement has 21 jewels, a gold straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and five positions, self compensating Breguet balance spring and combination cam and swan neck micrometre regulator.
Case and movement signed.
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Diameter: 51.5 mm
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Dimensions box: 15 x 15 cm
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Signed: Longines Watch Co
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G.C.T. watches were used for navigational purposes. In original advertising literature, they are promoted for use by aviators, explorers and scientists because of their accuracy. Naturally, they were also used by the military. American watch manufacturers such as Hamilton, Elgin and Waltham also made similar watches. The watches were normally fitted with a black dial for readability. The movement’s eccentric regulator allows for extremely accurate timing.