Rare Late 1940’s Marvin Master Mason 17 Jewel Caliber 520 Wristwatch in a Solid 14K Gold Case Made by Eric Monnier
Up for sale is an extraordinary artifact of post-war Swiss horology: an authentic, mid-century Marvin Master Mason wristwatch rendered in solid 14k gold. This timepiece represents a rare intersection of a prestigious, in-house Swiss caliber, a highly collectible fraternal dial design, and a commissioned case by one of Switzerland’s most revered independent case makers.
Specifications
- The Case: Crafted in solid (possibly rose) 14K Gold (0.585) by the legendary master case-maker Eric Monnier of La Chaux-de-Fonds. The interior of the case back features Monnier’s registered Swiss government Poinçon de Maître (the iconic Hammerhead stamp containing code 132), along with the unique serial tracking number 574094 dating the watch case to have been produced sometime between 1946 and 1948. Monnier famously produced high-grade precious metal cases for elite houses like Omega, Longines and Universal Genève.
- The Dial: An original Master Mason (3rd Degree) configuration. In blue the iconic Square and Compasses emblem sits in alignment with both compass legs clearly visible over the square, indicating the full rank of a Master Mason. Roman numeral indices in blue and a small sub second in black with gold hands complete the elegant face. The dial retains its beautiful, authentic vintage character and appears untouched to preserve its historical integrity. The crystal displays very light surface scratches consistent with age and use.
- The Movement: Powered by Marvin’s celebrated, in-house Caliber 520 manual-wind movement with 17 jewels. This higher-grade variant features an integrated Incabloc shock absorber system, a hallmark of Marvin's premier late-1940s to early-1950s production.
- The Band: Black leather, made in Macau. Possibly original to the watch. Displays visible signs of age and wear including multiple cracks to the leather.
- Condition: Very good vintage condition. The solid gold case exhibits a warm, elegant patina. The case displays scratches to both the interior and exterior of the case back along with small dents as shown and highlighted in the photos. Crucially, the mechanical movement is operational and maintains accurate time.
- Please note: Not being a jeweler or knowledgeable regarding watch mechanisms only the outer case was polished using a jewelers cloth.
Please feel free to reach out with questions and/or requests for additional photos.
All items are carefully packed and shipped within 1-business day of purchase.