This beautiful Gotham Aristocrat is a wonderful example of the geometric styling that carried Art Deco design into the post-war period. Gotham was a brand of the Ollendorff Watch Co. of New York, and watches such as this were produced for the American market using Swiss mechanical movements paired with American-made cases.
The rectangular 26.2mm case measures approximately 40.6mm lug-to-lug and just 8.5mm thick. Its stepped, flared lugs give the otherwise compact case a much more substantial architectural presence, while the slim profile is typical of the elegant dress watches of the era.
The silvered crosshatch dial is particularly attractive, combining applied gold-tone Arabic numerals at 12, 3, and 9 with small dot markers and a recessed small-seconds register at 6 o’clock. The geometric case and textured dial work beautifully together, giving the watch a distinctly Art Deco character without feeling overly ornate.
Inside is a 17-jewel Swiss manual-winding movement, marked “SWISS” and carrying the import code PPWTE, associated with the Ollendorff Watch Co. The 17-jewel configuration represents a well-jeweled mechanical movement, using synthetic ruby bearings at key points to reduce friction and wear. The watch is wound by hand through the crown, providing a wonderfully direct connection to the mechanics of the timepiece.
The case itself was produced in the United States, with the inner case back marked “Master Stainless Back – USA.” This Swiss-movement/American-case combination was common for watches made for the U.S. market during this period, allowing companies to combine Swiss watchmaking expertise with domestically produced cases.
Gotham is also an especially fitting name for a New York watch brand, referencing the long-standing nickname for the city. The accompanying vintage advertisement for “Gotham Watches by Ollendorff Watch Co. Inc., New York” makes this example even more interesting, providing a wonderful piece of original period context alongside the watch itself.
A beautifully proportioned Art Deco-inspired dress watch with a Swiss 17-jewel movement, American-made case, textured dial, and genuine New York watchmaking history. The period advertisement makes this an especially charming package for the collector of vintage watches with a story to tell.
This beautiful Gotham Aristocrat is a wonderful example of the geometric styling that carried Art Deco design into the post-war period. Gotham was a brand of the Ollendorff Watch Co. of New York, and watches such as this were produced for the American market using Swiss mechanical movements paired with American-made cases.
The rectangular 26.2mm case measures approximately 40.6mm lug-to-lug and just 8.5mm thick. Its stepped, flared lugs give the otherwise compact case a much more substantial architectural presence, while the slim profile is typical of the elegant dress watches of the era.
The silvered crosshatch dial is particularly attractive, combining applied gold-tone Arabic numerals at 12, 3, and 9 with small dot markers and a recessed small-seconds register at 6 o’clock. The geometric case and textured dial work beautifully together, giving the watch a distinctly Art Deco character without feeling overly ornate.
Inside is a 17-jewel Swiss manual-winding movement, marked “SWISS” and carrying the import code PPWTE, associated with the Ollendorff Watch Co. The 17-jewel configuration represents a well-jeweled mechanical movement, using synthetic ruby bearings at key points to reduce friction and wear. The watch is wound by hand through the crown, providing a wonderfully direct connection to the mechanics of the timepiece.
The case itself was produced in the United States, with the inner case back marked “Master Stainless Back – USA.” This Swiss-movement/American-case combination was common for watches made for the U.S. market during this period, allowing companies to combine Swiss watchmaking expertise with domestically produced cases.
Gotham is also an especially fitting name for a New York watch brand, referencing the long-standing nickname for the city. The accompanying vintage advertisement for “Gotham Watches by Ollendorff Watch Co. Inc., New York” makes this example even more interesting, providing a wonderful piece of original period context alongside the watch itself.
A beautifully proportioned Art Deco-inspired dress watch with a Swiss 17-jewel movement, American-made case, textured dial, and genuine New York watchmaking history. The period advertisement makes this an especially charming package for the collector of vintage watches with a story to tell.