A particularly charming mid-century Sormel with a wonderfully aged dial and a very attractive period case.
The dial has developed a strong natural vintage patina, giving it a soft, almost parchment-like appearance. The applied gold-tone Arabic numerals and faceted indices remain visible against the aged dial, paired with elegant gold-tone hands and a red sweep seconds hand that adds a great bit of contrast.
The case is a nicely proportioned steel/base-metal Swiss case, with a broad polished bezel and sharply articulated lugs. The caseback is stamped:
SHEFFIELD MERCHANDISE CO.
BASE METAL
SWISS
Inside is a 17-jewel Swiss mechanical movement, marked M101 / SEVENTEEN JEWELS / 17 JEWELS. The movement has a clean, traditional Swiss layout with a large balance, ruby jewel settings and a regulator marked + / −.
Sormel examples from this period are encountered with 17-jewel Swiss/French mechanical movements, and surviving examples commonly feature the same combination of applied markers, sweep seconds and robust mid-century construction.
What really makes this one appealing is the dial aging. Rather than trying to look pristine, it has the kind of honest, accumulated character that makes vintage watches interesting—the warm discoloration, aged numerals and red seconds hand all work together beautifully.
A great affordable example of post-war Swiss watchmaking: handsome proportions, a substantial mechanical movement and a genuinely vintage dial with plenty of character.
A particularly charming mid-century Sormel with a wonderfully aged dial and a very attractive period case.
The dial has developed a strong natural vintage patina, giving it a soft, almost parchment-like appearance. The applied gold-tone Arabic numerals and faceted indices remain visible against the aged dial, paired with elegant gold-tone hands and a red sweep seconds hand that adds a great bit of contrast.
The case is a nicely proportioned steel/base-metal Swiss case, with a broad polished bezel and sharply articulated lugs. The caseback is stamped:
SHEFFIELD MERCHANDISE CO.
BASE METAL
SWISS
Inside is a 17-jewel Swiss mechanical movement, marked M101 / SEVENTEEN JEWELS / 17 JEWELS. The movement has a clean, traditional Swiss layout with a large balance, ruby jewel settings and a regulator marked + / −.
Sormel examples from this period are encountered with 17-jewel Swiss/French mechanical movements, and surviving examples commonly feature the same combination of applied markers, sweep seconds and robust mid-century construction.
What really makes this one appealing is the dial aging. Rather than trying to look pristine, it has the kind of honest, accumulated character that makes vintage watches interesting—the warm discoloration, aged numerals and red seconds hand all work together beautifully.
A great affordable example of post-war Swiss watchmaking: handsome proportions, a substantial mechanical movement and a genuinely vintage dial with plenty of character.