This handsome Lebernco is a wonderful example of the French-Swiss crossover watches produced during the mid-century period. Dating to approximately the late 1950s or 1960s, it combines a Swiss-branded identity with French-made components and a practical, military-adjacent design that gives it the character of a vintage field watch while retaining the refinement of a dress watch.
At 33.9mm in diameter, with a 39.9mm lug-to-lug measurement and approximately 11.3mm thickness including its highly domed acrylic crystal, the watch has excellent mid-century proportions. The compact case sits naturally on the wrist, while the substantial domed crystal gives it the unmistakable character of a vintage mechanical watch.
The silver sunburst dial is particularly attractive. Applied gold-tone Arabic numerals at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 alternate with arrow-shaped markers, creating a distinctive field-watch-inspired layout. A date window at 3 o'clock adds useful everyday functionality, with a red-on-white date disc providing a subtle splash of colour. The dial is also marked ANTICHOC and ANCRE 15 RUBIS, reflecting the period's emphasis on shock resistance and traditional Swiss/French lever escapement construction.
The screw-down stainless-steel caseback is stamped with an elaborate legal armour/coat-of-arms emblem along with Stainless Steel Back, Antimagnetic, and Water Resistant markings. The combination of a robust steel back, antimagnetic construction, and shock-resistant movement fits perfectly with the watch's practical field-dress character.
Inside is a particularly interesting Cupillard 233-family manual-wind movement, identifiable by the distinctive star decoration engraved across the large ratchet wheel. Although the dial is marked 15 Rubis, the movement itself is stamped 17 Jewels, making this particular example slightly more highly jewelled than the specification advertised on the dial. The movement also carries production marking 15965.
Lebernco has an interesting place in the regional watch industry around the French-Swiss border. Watches carrying the name were associated with the broader horological region and could combine Swiss branding with French-made movements and cases from manufacturers operating around Maîche, creating a fascinating blend of the two neighbouring watchmaking traditions.
The result is a wonderfully characterful mid-century mechanical watch: compact, practical, highly wearable, and full of period detail. Between the unusual six-number Arabic dial, red date display, antichoc construction, domed crystal, and French-Swiss mechanical heritage, this Lebernco offers considerably more personality than its relatively understated name might suggest.
This handsome Lebernco is a wonderful example of the French-Swiss crossover watches produced during the mid-century period. Dating to approximately the late 1950s or 1960s, it combines a Swiss-branded identity with French-made components and a practical, military-adjacent design that gives it the character of a vintage field watch while retaining the refinement of a dress watch.
At 33.9mm in diameter, with a 39.9mm lug-to-lug measurement and approximately 11.3mm thickness including its highly domed acrylic crystal, the watch has excellent mid-century proportions. The compact case sits naturally on the wrist, while the substantial domed crystal gives it the unmistakable character of a vintage mechanical watch.
The silver sunburst dial is particularly attractive. Applied gold-tone Arabic numerals at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 alternate with arrow-shaped markers, creating a distinctive field-watch-inspired layout. A date window at 3 o'clock adds useful everyday functionality, with a red-on-white date disc providing a subtle splash of colour. The dial is also marked ANTICHOC and ANCRE 15 RUBIS, reflecting the period's emphasis on shock resistance and traditional Swiss/French lever escapement construction.
The screw-down stainless-steel caseback is stamped with an elaborate legal armour/coat-of-arms emblem along with Stainless Steel Back, Antimagnetic, and Water Resistant markings. The combination of a robust steel back, antimagnetic construction, and shock-resistant movement fits perfectly with the watch's practical field-dress character.
Inside is a particularly interesting Cupillard 233-family manual-wind movement, identifiable by the distinctive star decoration engraved across the large ratchet wheel. Although the dial is marked 15 Rubis, the movement itself is stamped 17 Jewels, making this particular example slightly more highly jewelled than the specification advertised on the dial. The movement also carries production marking 15965.
Lebernco has an interesting place in the regional watch industry around the French-Swiss border. Watches carrying the name were associated with the broader horological region and could combine Swiss branding with French-made movements and cases from manufacturers operating around Maîche, creating a fascinating blend of the two neighbouring watchmaking traditions.
The result is a wonderfully characterful mid-century mechanical watch: compact, practical, highly wearable, and full of period detail. Between the unusual six-number Arabic dial, red date display, antichoc construction, domed crystal, and French-Swiss mechanical heritage, this Lebernco offers considerably more personality than its relatively understated name might suggest.