2.1393 E.M.T. / MATHEY-TISSOT WW2 MILITARY DECK CHRONOMETER, SWISS 1940s
£390.00
A large and impressive WWII-era military deck watch of the type supplied for British naval navigation service. At 62.5 mm wide, this is not an ordinary pocket watch but a precision timekeeping instrument, designed to provide a large, clear display and reliable timekeeping aboard ship. This example has a beautiful white enamel dial with large black Roman numerals, minute scale and original blued steel hands. The heavy stainless steel case has a screw-down construction and a deeply fluted bezel, making it much more substantial than a normal pocket-watch case.
A practically identical E.M.T. deck watches are illustrated by Konrad Knirim in his reference work on British military timepieces. Knirim describes this type as a Swiss movement supplied with a British case and dial and used by the Hydrographic Service. British Royal Observatory records confirm that H.S.3 was the official Hydrographic Service designation for a “Deck Watch”, and that E. Matthey Tissot was among the suppliers used during WWII.
Comparable surviving E.M.T. military examples normally carry an H.S.3 marking and Broad Arrow and were frequently supplied in protective wooden boxes. They remained in the British chronometer system for decades: surviving documentation shows mechanical deck watches being serviced and re-issued long after WWII, before the H.S.3 type was finally replaced by electronic watches in 1981.
This particular example does not show an external military issue number or H.S.3 marking, so we cannot confirm its individual military assignment. However, its stainless steel screw case, enamel dial, central seconds layout and movement construction closely correspond to the E.M.T. military deck-watch type documented by Knirim and in surviving British military examples.
The watch came from a collection and was serviced several years ago. It has not been serviced by our workshop. The movement is currently operational and running.
The large gilt movement is made in the traditional deck-watch format, with 15 jewels, lever escapement and a large balance. It is built for stability and easy servicing rather than compact size.
Other surviving E.M.T. H.S.3 watches have the same characteristic large case, white dial, blued hands and centre-seconds arrangement. Auction records also document examples retained by the Hydrographic Service and later sent to the Admiralty Chronometer Section for servicing and re-issue.
Servicing and Warranty
Previously serviced several years ago, not serviced by our workshop, offered as-is with a limited 1-month movement warranty
No overwound/broken mainspring warranty
The hand-setting position does not have a strong or distinctive click; this is part of the watch’s current operation
Movement is fully operational, the crown winds and sets the hands correctly
Recommended primarily as a collector’s piece, rather than for continuous daily use
