Following the success of the models “Anniversary” and “Record” the Basel watchmakers have created a further highlight for collectors and enthusiasts. For this new project, the company has been acquired very special watch movements from the 1920s.
Around 1918, the firm Buser & Cie in Niederdorf in the valley of Waldenburg near Basel developed the NIDOR 8-day mechanical watch movement for the automobile industry. This could be mounted on the dashboard or at the centre of the steering wheel. Unfortunately, sales were not good and production was thus stopped. Until 1965, when the company was taken over by MSR-Holding, the on-board movements were thought to have been lost. It was only in the year 2000 that Roland Buser designed a matching silver pocket watch-case for the movement, which has now been redesigned as a pocket watch for the wrist.
The historic movements were refurbished in the workshops of ZENO-WATCH BASEL and the silver case was deliberately only slightly modified. Unfortunately, only a few collectors will be able to enjoy these beautiful watches, as only 50 were produced.
The watch is available from selected dealers for € 2,960 (recommended retail price).
Nidor was a trademark of the Manufacture d’Horlogerie BUSER FRERES & Co., founded in 1916. The high quality armature lever movements were used by Buser, Esta, Frenca, Neo, Tip Top and Gruen for pocket watches and on-board car clocks.
Technical details
Ref. Buser-i2
Available from selected dealers for € 2,960 (recommended retail price)
Functions
Hour and minute display
Case
Ø: 54.5mm (21.45 inch), h:16mm solid Sterling silver (925), four-part special construction (high-gloss polish) with side fluting and hinged back, classic pocket watch onion crown
Movement
New Old Stock movement, approx. 1918
NIDOR- mechanical 8-day manual wound movement from Buser Frères, bridgework construction with simple factory decoration, polished steel screws, Swiss lever escapement, no shock-protection, 17 jewels
Glass
Hardened mineral glass (domed)
Dial
White high-gloss dial with printed minute divisions, filigree Roman numerals and elegantly blue-toned cathedral hands
Strap
Robust calf leather strap (crocodile embossed) with stainless steel buckle,
Wristband lug width 26 mm (other straps and fold-over clasp optional)
