Antique trench watch

This is a vintage watch that has stood for over a century, presumably dating from between 1910 and 1920. Its design blends typical trench watch features with the early transitional style of the Art Deco period—a time when watchmakers were attempting to transplant classic pocket watch elements onto the emerging wristwatch.

Most captivating is its unique hexagonal case—a geometric form that was popular in early Art Deco. Paired with a flawless white enamel dial, a delicate small seconds subdial is positioned at 6 o'clock. The numerals on the dial are large, stylized Arabic numerals, and the faint yellowish-brown marks within their outlines were originally filled with radium luminescent paint—standard in military and early wristwatches for legible readability in the dark. However, this material naturally ages and darkens over time. The hands should be made of blued steel, and the hour hand features a minimalist design, showcasing ingenuity.

The crown presents a striking small "onion" shape. Originally, watches with linear lugs like these typically came with leather or canvas straps. Today, I've paired it with a stainless steel strap from the mid-20th century, commonly known as a "ladder" strap.

Back then, many of these antique watches didn't have the brand marked on the dial. I remember over thirty years ago, my wife and I visited our university classmate, Han Cheng, in England, and together we went treasure hunting at Portobello Market. This market, located in Kensington and Chelsea, was established in 1870, initially selling fresh food and daily necessities. Since the 1940s, it has transformed into one of the largest antique markets in Britain.

Today, the market boasts over 1,000 stalls stretching along Portobello Road and Golburn Road, divided into five main areas: secondhand goods, fashion, home goods, fruits and vegetables, and the most captivating antique section. Every Saturday is the market's main open day, with all five sections open simultaneously, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

The market's current prosperity can be traced in part to the "Swing Sixties" of the 1960s—when a group of fashionable and creative individuals began to gather and shop here. Since 1966, Portobello Road has also been the venue for the world-renowned Caribbean cultural event—the Notting Hill Carnival. The films *Notting Hill* and *Paddington Bear* further enhanced its fame.

Of course, with the passage of time and the rise of online shopping platforms like eBay, these kinds of watches have gradually become rare in Portobello Market's physical stores, especially those rare pieces with well-preserved dials.

Gazing at this watch's unique hexagonal case, one can almost touch the vibrant creativity of the early 20th century. The evolution of wristwatches is deeply marked by two historical currents:

World War I (the trench watch era)—amidst the chaos of war, watchmakers were forced to hastily convert pocket watches into wristwatches. Practicality was paramount, leading to the development of the "onion-shaped" crown for easy winding while wearing gloves, and radium luminescent paint for soldiers to read the time in the dark trenches.

The Art Deco movement—in the 1920s, geometry, symmetry, and clean lines became the aesthetic trend of the era. Watchmakers abandoned the traditional round pocket watch frame, boldly embracing avant-garde shapes like the hexagonal one seen on this wristwatch.

Every era has its unique resilience and character. Looking back at Hong Kong, which has weathered countless storms, it has always stood firm amidst numerous challenges. We believe that this economic crisis will eventually be overcome...