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A Charming Vintage Mervos Yellow Gold Plated Triple Calendar and Moonphase Wristwatch, with Silver Sunburst Dial, Dated to the 1960s and Housing a Universal Genève Caliber 291 Movement. 

Mervos was registered as a trademark of Nivada Watch Company in Grenchen on 29/10/1937. It was then registered on 17/11/1941 in New York by the importer Horowitz & Son Inc (also importer of Nevada), finally also registered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 29/10/1957 by the importer Rene Cahn & Cie SRL, for the marketing of its products in South America.

Mervos generally produced budget watches for everyday use, but, on occasion, also collaborated with prestigious brands. Martel Watch Co. was located in Le Locle, just a stone's throw from Zenith and, at the time, Universal. In fact, Universal's earliest chronographs used movements from Martel. In 1958 Zenith took over Martel and, possibly found surplus semi-finished and forgotten references which they may have sold on to Mervos.

The case for a 291 must have been made specifically, so it could be possible that this watch was entirely produced by Universal Genève in Pont de Martel and then the dial branded for Mervos. We cannot be certain about this, however, so if you happen to be able to shed any light, please do get in touch. 

What’s On Offer 

A fabulous silver sunburst dial boasting subsidiary dials for seconds, date, and month, apertures for days of the week, and moon phase - this watch certainly combines both style and function! The dial is surprisingly uncluttered and is rather exquisitely designed with applied hour indices in yellow gold and super slim matching gold hands. This jewel of a dial sits underneath plexiglass and is enveloped in a yellow (10 microns) gold plated case with a stainless steel case back. 

The case is also marked T.C. between the lugs which is the abbreviation of THERMO COMPACT S.A. - a company belonging to the Dérobert DF group, which specialised in electroplating. Dérobert is in turn the founder of the Manufacture Genevoise des Boîtes de Montres MGBM, a factory that specialised in the production of cases, which also produced cases for Universal Genève. 

The watch is mid-size and its slender proportions wear comfortably on the wrist, we have it paired with a deep wine coloured leather strap with a gold plated pin buckle. This is a beautiful watch and the yellow gold accents give it a very opulent aesthetic. It will carry the wearer seamlessly from daywear to evening. 

Additional information

Made from

Case: Gold Plated

Dial: Silver Sunburst

Crystal: Plexi

Bracelet: Leather Strap with Gold Plated Pin Buckle

Technical specifications

Winding: Manual

Movement Type: Mechanical

Caliber: Martel / Universal Genève 291

Jewels: 17j

Waterproof: NO

Power reserve: 38 hrs

Purchase details

Condition: Superb

Model Reference: Calendar with Moon Phase

Date of issue: c.1960s

Warranty: 12 months by VWS

Dimensions

Width (without crown): 35.5mm

Lug width: 19.5mm

Lug height: (lug to lug) 44.5mm

Wrist size: Adjustable