MUSEUM RARE WWI Imperial German Navy U-Boat Officer Award Silver Watch INVAR

An Exceptionally Rare, Museum-Quality Antique WWI Imperial German Navy U-Boat Submarine Officer’s Award Wristwatch Chronometer by INVAR.

Up for acquisition is an extraordinary piece of military and horological history. This is a magnificent, oversized (49mm) World War I era German submarine officer’s presentation or award wristwatch, crafted by the esteemed Swiss maker INVAR. Preserved in absolutely perfect condition, this timepiece represents the pinnacle of early 20th-century military chronometers, designed for rigorous naval use and awarded for exceptional service in the Kaiserliche Marine.

Pieces of this specific configuration, bearing such highly detailed military provenance on the dial and housed in a pristine solid silver screw case, are virtually unseen outside of high-end private collections and maritime museums.

THE DIAL : The original, flawless white enamel dial is a true masterpiece of historical art. It prominently features the iconic Imperial German black Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz) positioned just below the 12 o’clock mark, crested by the legendary Prussian military motto “Gott mit uns” (God with us) in elegant Gothic script.

Dominating the lower hemisphere of the dial is a breathtakingly detailed transfer of an early WWI-era German U-boat cruising the surface. The dial is complete with bold, perfectly preserved Arabic numerals, an oversized subsidiary seconds register at the 9 o’clock position, and is signed “INVAR” at 3 o’clock. The time is indicated by a beautifully preserved set of original spade hands that exhibit a striking, unpolished patina.

THE CASE : Measuring a massive 49mm in diameter (excluding the large onion crown), the case commands incredible presence on the wrist. It is a robust, solid silver screw-back and screw-bezel design, engineered to protect the precision movement from the harsh moisture and atmospheric changes of a submarine environment. The coin-edge detailing on the bezels remains incredibly sharp.

The inner case back is fully hallmarked, confirming its high purity and origin. It bears the Swiss and German silver guarantees, including the prominent 0.935 silver purity stamp (a higher grade than standard sterling, typically reserved for premium Swiss watches exported to Germany) alongside the traditional German crescent moon and crown (Halbmond und Krone). It is further stamped with the maker’s initials “C.M.I.” and the serial number 251726.

THE MOVEMENT : Opening the screw-down back reveals a pristine, chronometer-grade manual wind movement, proudly signed “INVAR”. The brand name Invar derives from the nickel-steel alloy invented by Nobel laureate Charles Édouard Guillaume, which was highly prized in marine chronometry for its resistance to temperature expansion.

The gilt-frosted, architectural movement is a testament to high-end Swiss watchmaking. It is equipped with a sophisticated swan-neck micro-regulator over the balance cock, allowing for the precise timing adjustments crucial for naval navigation. The high jewel count, polished steel components, and massive bimetallic split balance wheel are all in superlative, gleaming condition.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT: During the First World War, the U-boat fleet was the vanguard of the Imperial German Navy. Commanders and officers who demonstrated exceptional valor or completed highly successful patrols were occasionally honored with specialized timepieces. The robust construction, luminous-style oversized numerals (designed for visibility in the dim lighting of a submarine), and the specific INVAR anti-magnetic and temperature-resistant properties made this an indispensable navigational tool, not just an award.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFICATIONS:

• Maker: INVAR

• Era: World War I (circa 1914-1918)

• Case Material: Solid 0.935 Silver (Fully hallmarked)

• Case Diameter: 49mm (without crown)

• Dial: Original white enamel with Iron Cross, “Gott mit uns”, and U-boat motif

• Movement: High-grade Swiss manual wind chronometer with micro-regulation

• Condition: Perfect / Museum-Grade. The enamel is flawless, the case threading is tight and secure, and the movement is pristine.

This is a rare opportunity to acquire a centerpiece maritime and horological artifact. It is heavily recommended for serious collectors of Imperial German militaria, high-end trench watches, and exceptional naval chronometers.

Please review all high-resolution images carefully as they are a central part of the description. Do not hesitate to reach out with any technical or historical questions regarding this exceptional timepiece.

History: The Invar Watch Co. was founded in 1901 by Achilles Hirsch in La Chaux de Fonds,named after the invar material used in balance. Invar was invented in 1896 by Swiss physicist, Charles Edouard (acute on ‘E’) Guillaume, but he was only internationally recognized for the discovery in 1920 when he received the Nobel prize for physics, encouraged by the improvement in scientific instruments that the use of Invar had allowed. Invar has proved to be an incredibly useful alloy and is used where high dimensional stability is required, such as precision instruments, clocks, seismic creep indicators, TV shadow-mask frames, valves in engines, and antimagnetic watches. I have not so far mentioned the useful antimagnetic properties of Invar, but in combination with high dimensional stability, these make for an excellent material to be used in the manufacture of hair springs and certain other components in mechanical watches. Indeed, the bi-metallic balance in watches that had been the previous method of controlling accuracy for temperature variations could now be replaced by solid Invar.