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Vintage Ladies' Wrist Watch Dreffa 17-Jewel 10-Karat Gold-Plated Bezel 8 Diamonds / Diamond Chips NERAW Band on Face
Circa 1950 (this date is my guess based on research, some of which is detailed below)
Extremely Rare NERAW brand name on watch front
I do not know anything about watches, in general, and everything in this listing is from novice-level research online. If you have information on this watch, or anything in this listing, that would aide in more accurately describing something here I would love to hear from you.
This watch does not work, but from what I have read I assume it could be restored to working condition. The stem pulls out easily and works to set the time, and it will wind, but the hands do not move, and there is no audible ticking noise after winding.
It is hard to tell from the photo but, from research, the bezel side is stamped 10K RGP which stands for "Rolled Gold Plate"
The photos of the back side of the watch show the letters A R and F S. These letters are found on the balance cock under the regulator lever. They stand for ‘Faster Slower’ and the equivalent in French ‘Avance Retard’. They show which way to move the regulator lever to make the watch go faster or slower.
Backside also reads: DREFFA WATCH CO SEVENTEEN 17 JEWELS SWISS UNADJUSTED EXI
About DREFFA: In 1874 Armand Dreyffus established Dreffa in Geneve, Switzerland as Montres Dreffa, SA. Montres meaning watches in French and Dreffa which was derived from his name DREyFFus A. In 1924, Dreyffus sought to expand the market outside of Switzerland and the name was changed to Dreffa Watch Co, SA. In 1946 Montres Dreffa, SA registered the name Dreffa Watch in the USA and started selling its luxury watches in the USA under the Dreffa name. The logo was changed to include the word Geneve.
About RGP: RGP means "Rolled Gold Plate" Often seen as "10K RGP" or "1/30 10K RGP" This term is usually stamped on watches and is basically a very thin layer of gold bonded to a base metal. This type of piece has more gold than an electroplated piece has but it is still not solid gold. GF stands for gold filled.
About 17 Jewels: Higher grade watches have traditionally used jeweled movements, which means that jewels (originally natural ruby) were actually used in the movement. These jewels are functional - they are used as the bearings for the wheel trains and in high wear parts such as the escape lever and impulse jewel. Jewels today are friction-fit into main plates and bridges, however that process only began around the 1930s.
Back of Stainless Steel Watch Cover Reads: ELITE W C CO STAINLESS BASE METAL < the “E” in “ELITE” above is enclosed in a diamond shape>
About NERAW: Unfortunately I have almost no information about this brand name. The only other watch I see online with this name on the front, has a Roamer watch inside. Because of this, and the scarcity of finding any information on this brand, my premise is that this brand belonged to a local jeweler or watch maker who put their own brand on the front of watches that they purchased from other vendors. This Dreffa watch is described elsewhere, but not as a Neraw brand as this one.
Watch crystal is about ¾ of an inch wide and about 7/8 of an inch tall.
Your satisfaction is important to me. Any and all questions answered, and happy to send more pics / info etc. I would love t hear from you if you have information that can aide in my more accurately describing this vintage watch.
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