An original OGIVAL Automatic 1929 model watch. Beautiful Watch !
Not used. Collector owned. Yellow gold plated. Swiss Made Quality watch. Comes with the box. 18000B new
Ogival company history:
Ogival was created by René Brand in 1929 at La Chaux de Fonds.
In the 40's the company specialized in waterproof and automatic watches. At the same time a drawing of a fish was used sometimes on the dial.
In 1950 the company produced a unique piece, in gold, (a pocket watch) for pope Pio XII. Inside the case was written : MENSVRA TEMPORE EST IN MANV DEI.
One year later Ogival presented at the Basel Fair a stop watch based on the new ETA 1168 caliber.
In 1954 the company was taken over by Marcel Schmidt.
In 1956 Ogival lauched the famous model Spitfire. It was an unsual sport/elegant watch, waterproof, with luminescent indexes but the luminescent product was placed under the indexes which, as a result, were not filled with a green or yellow product.
In 1958 the company began to collaborate with the speleo-diving team of Aix en Provence in the south of France. At that time speleology was considered as a scientific adventure. The team was provided with Spitfire watches, including during the Coume Ouarnède exploration (-650 meters below the earth surface).
The same year launching of the Scriptodate (automatic + date) and the Starfighter (automatic, chronometer).
In 1959 the model used by the speleo-diving team is renamed "spéleo-plongée". The watch is now a chronometer.
In 1960 the spéleo-plongée model is deeply modified and has now a more professionnal design with black dial, large hands and turning bezel. The watch is automatic with date at 6.
The model was also modified in 1966.
It seems that Ogival took over Ulysse Nardin in the 70's.
In summary, a very interesting brand.