160 - Ulysse Nardin Le Locle - Corps of Engineers

Ulysse Nardin Le Locle - Corps of Engineers (*) A rare deck watch, made for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Movement No. 90969, Case No. 278452, Dimensions 51 mm, circa 1930, Weight 86 g, Origin Switzerland Case: Silver, case maker’s punch mark Huguenin Frères / Fabrique Niel. Dial: Enamel, luminous numerals, luminous hands. Movement: Bridge movement, ébauche: Henry Moser & Cie. SA, lever escapement, screw-compensated balance. The history of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dates back to June 16, 1775, when the Second Continental Congress established an army with a chief engineer and two assistants. General George Washington’s first chief engineer was Colonel Richard Gridley. Finally, in 1779, the U.S. Congress established a separate Corps of Engineers. Since that day, the Corps of Engineers has been involved in all U.S. military operations—from the American Revolution, where it played a pivotal role in battles such as Saratoga and the final victory at Yorktown with the help of a number of French officers, to modern-day operations in Iraq. From its very inception, the U.S. Congress has tasked the Corps of Engineers with construction and works “of a civil nature.” Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the Corps of Engineers played a key role in overseeing the construction of coastal fortifications, lighthouses, dams, and other major engineering projects, as well as large-scale harbor construction. In the 19th century, the Corps was responsible for mapping most of the American West and the country’s navigable waterways. The Corps’ wide range of activities called for a robust and accurate chronograph, which prompted the head of the U.S. Expeditionary Force in Bern to request that Vacheron Constantin produce a prototype for field use. The watch was to feature a silver case, a white dial with luminous Arabic numerals and hands, and a simple chronograph movement without a counter. Vacheron Constantin produced two prototypes and delivered them on May 8, 1918; an order for 5,000 pieces was placed that very same day. The original order specified that batches of 100 watches were to be delivered per month, or even 150–200 whenever available. A total of 3,289 watches were delivered between July 1918 and the end of 1919, so the contract was considered fulfilled. Vacheron Constantin archives indicate that the company also produced wristwatches with silver cases and gold buckles for the Corps of Engineers. Case: good, worn. Dial: very good. Movement: very good, in working order, cleaning recommended.