Anonimo Melpier & Droz & Co. monachina pocket watch 23 mm enamelled at back swiss 17 rubis in very good condition
- Stato orologio: Buono
- CDV: 77Q46SI5
Descrizione
Melpier & Droz & Co. monachina pocket watch 23 mm enamelled at back swiss 17 rubis in very good condition as pics. Description : Gold plated case mm 23. White dial - indexes arab numerals. Munual winding 17 jewels - swiss made - perfect working. Plexi glass - snap case back. Enamel floral decoration on the case back. Inner case back signed Drotz & Co. Very good condition as pics. No box no paper. Informative notes : This pocket watch, bearing the name "Melpier" and the inscription "Droz & Co." on the case back, encapsulates a fascinating history tied to Swiss watchmaking between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries—a period defined by complex commercial agreements and long-established distribution firms. Here is what these specific marks on your timepiece signify: 1. Who were Droz & Co.? "La Fabrique d'Horlogerie Droz & Co." was a prominent, historic Swiss manufacturer based in St. Imier, active as early as the second half of the 19th century. They were renowned for producing high-quality mechanical movements and pocket watches—ranging from simple models to those with complications (such as chronographs)—and earned numerous medals at the universal exhibitions of the era (Paris 1878, Antwerp 1885, Chicago 1893). A notable detail: It was the founders of Droz & Co. who, in 1884, launched the highly successful "West End Watch Co." in Bombay—a major force in the distribution of watches across the Indian and Middle Eastern markets. 2. What is "Melpier"? Melpier Watch was not a movement manufacturer, but rather a commercial brand and watch distributor (most likely operating within the Italian or French markets during the mid-20th century). Among vintage watch collectors, Melpier is particularly well-known to enthusiasts of diving watches; during the 1960s and 1970s, the company marketed the famous "Squale Master 1000m" and "Squale 301" models, which featured both brand names on the dial. 3. Why do both names appear? The presence of both Melpier and Droz & Co. points to a co-branding or supply arrangement: • The Movement/Case (Droz & Co.): Droz manufactured the watch (or the internal mechanical components and the base case). • The Distributor (Melpier): Melpier purchased the batch from the Swiss manufacturer Droz, subsequently customizing it, including it in their product catalog, and distributing it within their target market.