Hello Danielle,
Ladies, vintage, 14K rose gold and diamond, manually wound, wristwatch with gold filled link bracelet with deployment clasp, case made by Katz & Ogush of New York City, watch made by Blancpain-Rayville SA., Villeret, Switzerland, circa 1943...................
Case: Rectangular, 14k rose gold watch case with polished bezel, rectilinear tapered block shaped case barrel, original large fluted gold winding crown and a snap-on back cover with the inside indicating this was a 14k gold watch case made by K&O, Katz & Ogush of New York City. (They registered the K&O trademark in the USA in 1924 and the two diamond-shaped marks in 1927.) The top and lower poles of the gold bezel are convex, each with a horizontal row of four round- cut diamonds transitioning out to fluted and tapered gold lugs. The lugs are integrated with a steel and gold-filled link bracelet with deployment clasp.................
Dial: This is a horizontal tonneau-shaped gilt metal dial with black painted Arabic hours, closed minute track, blued steel baton hands and the upper dial marked, “Blancpain".
Movement: Split nickel plate mechanical movement, manually wound, '17 jewels, unadjusted', Swiss type regulator and the plates marked for 'Blancpain- Rayville, SA. Switzerland...............
Condition: Dial - Wear to the baton hands and wear to the numeral seven. Case - in very good condition. Bracelet - Moderate wear to the gilt finish on links of this bracelet. I assume the movement is functional with a cleaning, if not already so. A very nice ladies dress watch, typical of the design of the time during the late Art Deco era in America.
Such watches sell retail today in the $1000-$1200 range. I have provided you with a range of fair market value.
Historical: With the death of Frédéric-Emile Blancpain in 1932 the family's management of the firm ended. It had been in business for over two centuries. Under new ownership, the firm would be called "Rayville S.A., successor to Blancpain" (Rayville" being a phonetic anagram of Villeret).
'Rayville-Blancpain' was the name of the firm until it was sold once more, this time to Jacques Piguet, son of Frédéric Piguet, owner of the watch making firm of that name. Thereafter, it once again traded as Blancpain SA.
Thank you for sending us your family's vintage watch for appraisal. It was my pleasure to help you with this item.
David