Mystery wrist watch from around 1900

[Heilurikello]

Hi, Any thoughts what this could be? Looks a lot like Tissot Banana, but it isn't as this watch is known to be older than 1918 and as Tissot that serial number would place it to 1931-1933...

[vintagehamiltons]

Need a picture of the movement.

[Heilurikello]

Can't have it as it's not my watch. From the mowemwnt it would be much easier but does this look ring any bell for anyone?

[mrcardigan]

Confused as to how the strap is fitted to the watch - lugs appear to be hidden front and back.

[vintagehamiltons]

Style says 1930s to me.

[afire]

I'd go a little earlier than that, but not around 1900. Why is it that we believe the watch is older than 1918? To my eyes, it looks like it could be from around then, or later, but not much earlier.

[unreformed66]

Confused as to how the strap is fitted to the watch - lugs appear to be hidden front and back.

It looks like the spring bars are way up on the case, you can see the ends of them in the pictures. Perhaps the strap slides in between the front and back sections of the case? Odd design to be sure, I've never seen one quite like it. I'd be very interested to see the movement and inside the case back on this one.

[mrcardigan]

Quite. I was wondering if you gad to take the case back off in order to see/access the spring bars. Interesting.

[JerryT]

I love it! I wish we knew more about it. I would guess one must remove the back to access the bars for the strap. At this vintage they may not be spring bars; I have seen some watches with threaded rods that screw into the lugs. I have seen dials with exploding numerals just like this as far back as 1915.