Rare and highly collectible vintage Cortébert 17 Jewels Shockproof Swiss manual wind men's dress watch from the late 1960s / early 1970s. Features a stunning, near-mint sunburst silver dial with raised gold-toned hour markers and original hands. The watch is in exceptional aesthetic condition, with the 10-micron gold-plated case showing minimal signs of wear and maintaining its brilliant original shine. The stainless steel caseback is beautifully preserved, proudly displaying the authentic factory Cortébert "C" emblem, alongside the highly prestigious "Prix Observatoire" (Observatory Prize) engraving. The watch is in exceptional working condition, fully functional, and runs strong and smoothly. Winding and time adjustment via the crown work perfectly.

The Heart of the Watch — Rare In-House Caliber:
This premium Cortébert features a magnificent, fully factory-signed and beautifully rose-gold plated In-House Cortébert Caliber [701] mechanical manual-wind movement with 17 jewels and an integrated Swiss Shockproof system. The mechanism has been safely opened by a professional watchmaker, revealing a flawlessly clean, corrosion-free, and immaculately preserved "golden machine" that winds up smoothly and ticks with superb accuracy.

The "Prix Observatoire" Heritage:
The engraving on the caseback is a proud testament to Cortébert’s elite horological status. In the mid-20th century, top Swiss manufactures competed in rigorous precision trials at state observatories (such as Neuchâtel and Geneva). The "Prix Observatoire" designation proves that Cortébert’s movements achieved award-winning accuracy, placing them among the technical elite of the Swiss watchmaking world.

The Legacy of Cortébert:
The story of Cortébert began in 1790 when Abraham-Louis Juillard opened his small watchmaking store in the village of Cortébert, Switzerland. Officially registered as a brand name in 1855, Cortébert quickly grew into a premium Swiss manufacture, world-renowned for its elite engineering. They were one of the select few factories that manufactured their own high-grade in-house movements, even supplying mechanical calibers to other legendary luxury brands, most notably Rolex (for their early pocket watches and early Panerai combat models). Cortébert was also famous for supplying ultra-precise chronometers to European railroad networks.

The Quartz Crisis:
In the early 1970s, the Swiss watch industry was hit by the devastating "Quartz Crisis." Cheap, battery-powered watches from Asia flooded the market, changing horology forever. Unfortunately, like many other historic Swiss giants that refused to compromise on traditional mechanical craftsmanship, the Cortébert brand did not survive this era and closed its doors. Owning this watch means owning a piece of the golden age of true Swiss mechanical mastery before the quartz revolution.

AS ON PICTURES

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