Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Split-seconds chronograph

The Winner Split Seconds Chronograph Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This Swiss-made split-seconds chronograph pocket watch dates to the early 20th century and features a silver open-face case. The watch is distinguished by an unconventional dial arrangement with three sub-dials displaying time, continuous seconds, and a 30-minute counter. It is powered by a gilt three-quarter plate movement signed "The Winner," which utilizes a keyless going barrel, a Club foot lever escapement, and a compensation balance with an overcoil hairspring. The silver case incorporates gilded elements, including the crown, hinges, and the cuvette, which bears an inscription from Samuel Lyon Jnr. The chronograph function is operated via a crown-integrated button and an additional split-seconds pusher located on the case band. The hands are fashioned from blue steel, while the central split-seconds hand is finished in gold.

Front view of the silver open-face split-seconds chronograph with enamel dial.
Front view of the silver open-face split-seconds chronograph with enamel dial. — Pieces of Time / Zamanito. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Split-seconds chronograph
Maker / attribution
The Winner
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
early 20th century
Source-reported place
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

Case and Dial

The watch is housed in an open-face silver case with specific decorative and functional details. The exterior exhibits a polished finish and integrates a crown with a gilded finish. The hinges and the clasp tongue are also fashioned from gold, providing a contrast to the silver body of the watch.

The dial is constructed from white enamel and utilizes an unconventional layout to accommodate the timing functions. It features three distinct sub-dials that provide displays for time, continuous seconds, and a 30-minute counter. The primary time-telling hands are made of blue steel, while the central chronograph seconds hand is gilded, distinguishing it from the remaining hands of the watch.

Evidence for this section
  • “قاب نقره روباز (Open face) با طراحی و چیدمان غیرمعمول در صفحه قرار گرفته است”
  • “لولاها و زبانه طلایی”
  • “صفحه ساعت از جنس لعاب سفید با چیدمانی نامتعارف ساخته شده است”
  • “عقربه‌های ساعت از فولاد آبی‌رنگ ساخته شده‌اند، در حالی که عقربه ثانیه‌شمار اسپلیت در مرکز، طلاکاری‌شده است”

Movement and Mechanism

The internal movement is a gilt three-quarter plate design equipped with a keyless going barrel mechanism. The movement is marked with the name "The Winner." For precision, the escapement is of the Club foot lever type, and it includes a compensation balance paired with an overcoil hairspring.

The movement allows for split-seconds and flyback functionality, enabling the measurement of intermediate intervals.

Evidence for this section
  • “موتور این ساعت دارای طراحی سه‌چهارم پل طلاکاری‌شده (Gilt three quarter plate) با مکانیزم کوک بدون کلید (Keyless going barrel) بوده و عبارت «The Winner» بر روی آن مشخص شده است”
  • “این موتور همچنین به خرک ساده با رگولاتور فولادی پولیش‌خورده، بالانس جبرانی مجهز به فنر رقاصک اورکویل (Overcoil hairspring) و چرخ‌دنگ اهرمی Club foot مجهز است”

Provenance and Inscriptions

The watch features a specific inscription located on the internal protective cuvette, which indicates the item was examined by Samuel Lyon Jnr, located on Church Street in Blackpool. This suggests the watch may have passed through or been serviced by this entity.

The auction description reports the presence of these specific engravings alongside the mechanical signature. The provenance of the piece remains limited to this inscription found on the cuvette, which provides a link to the specific Blackpool-based retailer or horologist in the early 20th century.

Evidence for this section
  • “قاب نقره ساعت دارای قاب میانی (Cuvette) با حکاکی «Examined by Samuel Lyon Jnr – Church Street Blackpool»”
  • “حکاکی قاب محافظ داخلی (Cuvette): Examined by Samuel Lyon Jnr – Church Street Blackpool”

Open research questions

  • Was Samuel Lyon Jnr a retailer or a specialist horologist for split-seconds chronographs?
  • What is the full production history of "The Winner" movement brand in the early 20th century?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for The Winner Split Seconds Chronograph Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerThe Winner“عبارت «The Winner» بر روی آن مشخص شده است”
Case MaterialSilver“قاب نقره روباز (Open face)”
Movement TypeGilt three-quarter plate“موتور این ساعت دارای طراحی سه‌چهارم پل طلاکاری‌شده (Gilt three quarter plate)”
EscapementClub foot lever“چرخ‌دنگ اهرمی Club foot”
Cuvette InscriptionExamined by Samuel Lyon Jnr“حکاکی «Examined by Samuel Lyon Jnr – Church Street Blackpool»”
FunctionSplit-seconds flyback chronograph“کرنوگراف اسپلیت‌سکند فلای‌بک با ثبات ۳۰ دقیقه”
HairspringOvercoil“فنر رقاصک اورکویل (Overcoil hairspring)”

Visible details

  • Blue steel hands and gold-finished split-seconds hand
  • Unconventional layout with three sub-dials
  • Crown-integrated chronograph pusher and case-side split-seconds button
  • Gilded hinges and cuvette on the silver case

Research qualifications

  • Specific date of manufacture beyond early 20th century
  • Originality of the inscription on the cuvette

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

Consulted source

Unusual Silver Split Seconds Chronograph

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 6d3da02dfa

Terms in this record

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

Other split-seconds chronograph records