1939 Pilot Watch - Knight & Son Northampton - Marc Favre - FB Case
A fine and rare 1939 wristwatch by Knight and Son of Northampton.
This is a very similar pattern to the watches by G & M Lane, and Vertex, issued to Imperial Airways officers and is of similar quality, with the double back - We have had a comprehensive service carried out on the watch which is presented in near perfect condition with a completely original dial. - The all stainless-steel case by "FB" is 29mmx36mm - The Movement by Marc Favre runs well, and to time - The case back being engraved "To Donald from Gwen" allows us to date the watch to 1939.
Knight and Son (now known as Tompkins, Knight & Son) is a pioneering, award-winning Northampton independent opticians and jewellers. Established in 1868 by Alfred Knight and his watchmaker father, James, the family-run business has evolved from a traditional Victorian jewellery and watch shop into one of the most innovative optometric practices in the UK.
Marc Favre was born about 1875 in Cormoret and grew up in watchmaking circles, with his father and six uncles participating in Favre Frères.
Marc Favre took over his father's Cormoret matchmaking operation in 1896 but moved the operation to Place du Marche in Saint-Imier in July 1899. Sensing more opportunity in Bienne, Favre closed the company in February 1903. The Saint-Imier business was taken over by Marchand-Chopard.
Marc Favre established a new business in Bienne on May 1, 1904, and Marc Favre & Cie became one of the most important makers of compact watch movements in the 20th century. He registered the Siva brand that same year and quickly began registering designs and patents.
Marc Favre died on December 29, 1930, leaving his sons Robert, Jean, and Paul to take over management.
Although best known in the form of the Borgel officer's watch or Borgel trench watch, so called because they came into popular use during the First World War (The First World War or WW1), when many Borgel wristwatches were bought by officers and used in the trenches at the front, Borgel watches have a history that stretches back into the nineteenth century when in Geneva, Switzerland, a young François Borgel started a business making watch cases. He patented the eponymous Borgel watch case in 1891, making at first pocket watch cases and then later wristwatch cases as the fashion changed from carrying pocket watches to wearing wristwatches.
François Borgel was a talented inventor and successful businessman, and the business he created was to grow into one of the most important Swiss watch case manufacturers. Early adopters of the Borgel screw case included Longines and the International Watch Co. (IWC). After François Borgel’s death in 1912 the business was carried on by his daughter Louisa. Louisa Borgel sold the business in 1924 to the Taubert family of Le Locle, who carried it on until the 1970s supplying many watch manufacturers including the illustrious Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin.
