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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Art deco wristwatch

Blancpain Art Deco Wristwatch Cal. Rayville 42

Partially verified

Source reports describe this vintage Blancpain Art Deco wristwatch as dating from the mid-1920s. It features a rectangular metal case with cut corners measuring 27.5 mm by 31.2 mm, a lug-to-lug length of 38.7 mm, and a thickness of 10.2 mm. The silver dial displays luminous Arabic numerals, black printed tracks, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock. Inside, the manual-wind movement is identified by the seller as a Swiss Blancpain Caliber Rayville 42 with 15 jewels and three adjustments. The interior case back is reported to bear the markings 'ACME W. C. Co. SUPERBA'.

Front view of the Blancpain Art Deco wristwatch showing dial, numerals, and case
Front view of the Blancpain Art Deco wristwatch showing dial, numerals, and case — SECOND HAND HOROLOGY. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
secondhandhorology.com
Category
Wristwatch · Art deco wristwatch
Maker / attribution
Blancpain
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
WA-1677
Source-reported date
mid 1920's
Country
Switzerland

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Dial and Visual Appearance

The timepiece features an Art Deco presentation with a silver dial displaying luminous Arabic numerals and printed black tracks, including an inner rectangular railroad minute track. The dial is signed with the Blancpain name below the 12 o'clock position, and a subsidiary seconds hand is situated at 6 o'clock.

External examination shows open-worked luminous hands and a rectangular metal case with beveled cut corners and a fluted winding crown at 3 o'clock. The watch is fitted to a two-piece black leather strap.

Evidence for this section
  • “Silver dial with bold stylized Arabic numerals and an inner rectangular railroad minute track.”
  • “It has a silver dial with luminous Arabic Numerals and hands, tracks are printed black. The second hand is located at 6. Also, the dial is signed with the Blancpain name.”
  • “Rectangular case with beveled cut corners and a fluted winding crown at 3 o'clock.”
  • “Fitted with open-worked luminous hands and attached to a black leather strap.”

Case Construction and Markings

According to the seller's listing, the case measures 27.5 mm by 31.2 mm, with a thickness of 10.2 mm, a lug-to-lug span of 38.7 mm, a 15 mm lug width, and a 16 mm band width.

The listing describes the case as having cut corners, fancy split-fixed lugs, and engraved sides. The interior case back is reported by the seller to be marked 'ACME W. C. Co. SUPERBA', though this interior marking is not visible in the provided front photograph.

Evidence for this section
  • “Measures (mm): Case 27.5 x 31.2 Case Lug to Lug 38.7 Case Thickness 10.2 Lug Width 15 Band Width 16”
  • “It has a beautiful Art Deco rectangle case cutted corners, fancy split-fixed lugs and unique engraved sides design.”
  • “Case Back Markers: ACME W. C. Co. SUPERBA”

Reported Movement and Chronological Attribution

The movement is not visible in the front photograph. The seller identifies the internal mechanism as a manual-wind Swiss caliber with 15 jewels and three adjustments, labeled 'Blancpain 15 Jewels Three 3 Adjustments Cal. Rayville 42 Swiss'.

The seller describes the watch as dating from the mid-1920s. However, the listing's own historical summary states that the Rayville firm name ('Rayville S.A., succ. de Blancpain') was established around 1932 following the death of Frédéric-Émile Blancpain, leaving a chronological tension between the reported 'Cal. Rayville 42' marking and a mid-1920s date.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement: Blancpain 15 Jewels Three 3 Adjustments Cal. Rayville 42 Swiss”
  • “This is a STUNNING timepiece, a Blancpain wristwatch, dated from the mid 1920's.”
  • “After over two centuries, around 1932, when the death of Fredereic-Emile Blancpain, the end of the family's management arrived. The two members of the staff who had closest to Frederic-Emile, bought the business and the firm changed its name to Rayville S.A., succ. de Blancpain.”

Open research questions

  • What specific movement caliber base corresponds to 'Cal. Rayville 42', and was it manufactured before or after the 1932 Rayville transition?
  • Does the 'ACME W. C. Co. SUPERBA' stamping on the case back reflect original casing by a North American case maker for import, or a later recasing?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Blancpain Art Deco Wristwatch Cal. Rayville 42
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement CaliberCal. Rayville 42“caliber Rayville 42, 15 jewels movement, three adjustments”
Case Dimensions27.5 x 31.2 mm“Case 27.5 x 31.2”
Case Back MarkingsACME W. C. Co. SUPERBA“Case Back Markers: ACME W. C. Co. SUPERBA”
Lug to Lug38.7 mm“Case Lug to Lug 38.7”
Case Thickness10.2 mm“Case Thickness 10.2”
Lug Width15 mm“Lug Width 15”
Band Width16 mm“Band Width 16”

Visible details

  • Rectangular case with beveled cut corners and a fluted winding crown at 3 o'clock.
  • Silver dial with bold stylized Arabic numerals and an inner rectangular railroad minute track.
  • Subsidiary seconds dial positioned above 6 o'clock intersecting the minute track.
  • Dial signed 'BLANCPAIN' below the 12 o'clock position.
  • Fitted with open-worked luminous hands and attached to a black leather strap.

Research qualifications

  • Movement and inner case back markings are reported by the source but not visible in the supplied front image.
  • Rayville name was adopted after 1932 according to brand history, contrasting with the mid-1920s attribution reported by the seller.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

BLANCPAIN Art Deco Watch 15 Jewels Cal. Rayville 42 Swiss 1920's – SECOND HAND HOROLOGY

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 86fd5ca5fb

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Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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