RAAF CYMA wristwatch

[Andrew]

I'm a bit of a fan of the RAF 6B/159 and saw this was quite similar and won it. Seems like a nice piece, and I think a reasonable price.

Anyone know anything about these? Does CYMA stand for anything or is it the actual name?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 0185128362

 

[TankBuster]

Very interesting! It's kind of a cross between the WWW and the 6B/159. I have a huge reference book on WWII watches that just came out. I'll see if I can find anything in it.

 

[deeb7]

Anyone know anything about these? Does CYMA stand for anything or is it the actual name?

Nice size, Andrew ... British army model 1940's. CYMA is a brand name for watches produced by the Tavannes company.

 

[Andrew]

Thanks Jeff and Dave. I reckon it's about the same size as the 6b and it appears to have fixed lugs like them too. I really like the seconds dial.
Dave, do you know any links to info about them and wouldn't the RAAF indicate Air Force?

 

[Anonymous]

1862 Schwab Brothers open a watch company which they name CYMA from French for Summit which in turn is derived from the Latin word Cyma
1892 a businessman from Le Locle, Frederick Henri Sandoz goes into partnership with the Schwab Brothers and they establish a factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds
1903 the company produces its famous extra slim pocket watch with lever movement; watch so precise that it is awarded the Chronometer Certificate
1910 Cyma produces 2500 watches per day
1915 cyma develops it's first waterproof watches
1923 Cyma becomes the biggest watch manufacturer in Switzerland
1943 it launches it's first automatic watch
2005 Cyma continues its long tradition of quality, perfection, precision and innovation
Cyma to its credit holds hundreds of patents. Since its inception Cyma has produced over 30 million watches worn worldwide. Cyma continues the tradition of being one of the finest Swiss watchmaker of today.
The British military have had a long tradition of using this companies products .

All the best Jeff

 

[TankBuster]

Cyma is a pretty well known mfg of WWII watches. I found it interesting that they made watches for the Allies (mostly the British) as well as the Germans.

 

[TankBuster]

Andrew,
As promised, I scoured my 800 page bible on military watches for the RAF, RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF, and came up empty handed. Yours most closely resembles the ATP watch produced early in the war for the Army, but there are definite differences. I would guess that your watch is a WWII period private purchase, that easily may have been used in the RAAF.
The reason I would guess this is the the AM always marked their casebacks.
Here's some pics. Hope they help!

WWW

6B/159

Navy Fleet Air

ATP

 

[Andrew]

Thanks for doing that Jeff. I'd say you are right being a PP watch, and maybe they're not that rare. Did a search and came back with this one also for sale right now. They also say civil.

Oh well, looks the part and the right price.

http://www.mwrforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=24004

 

[deeb7]

Dave, do you know any links to info about them and wouldn't the RAAF indicate Air Force?

I'm so lazy, Andrew, that I didn't let the pictures load. Looking at the back, I agree with Jeff, that it's private purchase.

Regarding the company history .... Tavannes-Cyma ceased production in 1966, and the rights to the brand name passed to Chronos Holding.

 

[lazar]

Hi Andrew,
if interested, more information on the WWW (wrist watch waterproof) is found here:

http://www.sfu.ca/~mmh/BritishX.htm

a secial site on the IWC Mk X (same author)

http://www.sfu.ca/~mmh/MarkX.htm

Otherwise the best site on military watches is the MWR forum you already mentioned.

Mathias