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A Simply Stunning RARE Henri Moser Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon (FHF) Circa 1917 Pin Set "Trench" Transitional Watch Watch Red 12 Arabic Numerals & 24Hour Enamel Dial.
H. Moser & Cie Cytus Watch Signal Corps U.S.A.

Henri Moser Pioneer of Industry and grade A Badass 
In 1828, Heinrich Moser founded his eponymous company H. Moser & Cie. in Saint Petersburg. This visionary, who came from a family of watchmakers, started with one ambition: to create exceptional watches by showcasing high-quality craftsmanship and premium components.
This formula proved successful and, with his initiative, he developed the traditional form of watchmaking as practised by his family for generations and modernised it, creating a production facility, as well as an international service and retailer network. Heinrich Moser was an innovator whose business model is implemented on a global level by the large watchmaking groups of today. 
In late 1848, Heinrich Moser returned to Schaffhausen as a successful watchmaker and entrepreneur. A true industrial pioneer, he committed himself to transforming his home city, a sleepy town in days of old, into a cutting-edge industrial location, thanks to partnerships in hydro-mechanical power, train wagon production, railway line and Swiss watchmaking industries. And so he was the man behind Switzerland’s largest hydro-mechanical dam in this era, which provided industries in the town with energy and which took three winters to build, under the direction of Heinrich Moser himself. H. Moser & Cie celebrates the 150th anniversary of this construction and masterpiece, which remained in operation until 1959, when it was replaced by a hydropower plant.
It is pieces Like this that set appart good standard collection to truly UNIQUE collections watches with a story a history and a character that is quite simply Priceless




The CaseA "transitional" watch between the watches pocket watches of the late 1800s and the modern wrist watch we know today it was watches like this that would have been worn on the wrist. 
 From pocket watches those trench watches inherited hinged front and back covers. The lugs for a strap looked like a thick wire attachment to the classical round shape of pocket watches rather than an integrated part of the body of the later and modern wrist watches.
The name "wristlet" was used until the early 1930s and was eventually replaced by the modern name "wrist watch".
For a transitional watch of the time this example is a large example at a full 35m in diameter (excluding crown) 37.5mm (inclusive) 
The watch is "Pin Set" hours and hands are set only after depressing the pin at the 4 position on the case. 
The inner "dust cover" is in silver Moser engraved and serial matches inner hinged case cover 
The Outer case is a Silveroid or low grade silver a Military specification for the Signal Corps watches allowing the cases to be stronger otherwise known as nickel or silver nickel
The DialA Superb mint condition porcelain white dial clear and crisp black detail Bold art Nouveau Arabic numerals & Red 12Subsidiary seconds at 6 All hands in Blued steel. 
Rare 24 Hour Markings and red 12 give the distinctive military antique look collectors now refer to as the "Officers Trench Watch" 
All Radium has been removed from the dial giving the distinctive "nudist" look to the dial and skeletonised appearance to the all original hands 
The Movement Again in exceptional condition. 
The very nature of these "transitional" calibers is that they are just that "transitional" and were produced entirely by hand by true master watchmakers Devised, Planned, all hand cut hand bevelled and assembled by hand. 
 Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon, FHF Caliber Exact Movement number unknown 15 Jeweled Movement 
The nature of Transitional watches and calibers is that their production due their very nature is limited least not by the means of mass production but also the very fact that technological advancements in watchmaking were quickly reached and surpassed rendering these beautiful pieces of mechanical engineering obsolete 
Now these grandfathers of time are truly collectible due to their rarity, complexity and historic provenance