Historically, students learning horology at watchmaking schools have, as part of their education built and finished a timepiece. Schools during varying periods in history have approached this differently. The watch shown here was finished and adjusted by a student (or students) in Le Locle between 1941-1945.
The basic unfinished parts were born of a Le Coultre base 20RV, 50mm in diameter. The components were received in the state they left the machine and unadjusted. The student's task was to decorate and finish every element and adjust the final watch. This would have involved polishing of all steel parts including burnishing the pivots, lifting the balance overcoil, poising the balance wheel.
Polishing all of the angling on the German silver bridges and decorating their surfaces, as well as adjusting the escapement. To name just a few of activities the students would have executed. The level of work was often exceptional, beyond commercial watchmaking, the students' bar was fixed higher than convention normally dictated, by their teachers.
Because these watches are not in essence "branded" in a conventional way, they do not always carry the same financial value as brands usually do who would strive to make watches of this level. They are bought by specialist collectors who understand the intrinsic value and history each one carries.
Thanks to the The K&H Watchmaking Competence Centre for the loan of this watch.