Last updated on January 26, 2026
We recently came across a silver Marvin half-hunter trench watch dating from 1915, which was retailed by the famous London department store, Harrods. It caught our attention, not because of any watchmaking significance, but just because it was branded by one of London’s most prominent retail names. We did think about buying, but in the end, the decision was taken away from us, as it was sold. Rather than dwell on the missed opportunity, we decided to research the watch’s history and share what we learned here.
Trench watches
Trench watches first appeared during the late-19th-century Boer War. However, they became widespread in World War I, when soldiers needed to read time without digging through their tunic and pulling out a pocket watch. Features often included hinged covers, water-resistant cases and luminous dials. This Marvin trench watch follows the half-hunter style. It has a front cover with a small glass window so that the time can be read at a glance. The front cover protected the crystal in the rugged combat conditions.
The Marvin brand
The maker, Marvin, was a Swiss company founded in the 19th century by the Didisheim family. According to Mikrolisk, the Marvin name was registered by Les Fils de H.A. Didisheim in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, in 1893. They chose a 3-pointed crown as their logo, representing an inverted initial, ‘M’ for Marvin. The Marvin brand was originally targeted at the American market. By 1912, the Marvin company had become Compagnie des Montres Marvin S.A., producing its own movements in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Marvin watches were often sold through top retailers, such as Harrods, in this instance. In 1940, Marvin became affiliated with KLM Airlines and a series of major car companies. Marvin remained an active brand through to the 1960s, producing a range of good-quality watches. However, like many Swiss watchmakers, Marvin failed to survive the quartz crisis of the 1970s and 1980s (History of Marvin watches at Time to Tell)..
Marvin 362 movement
The watch has a Swiss hand-winding Marvin 362 movement. The watch is working well and keeping time to within +/- two to three minutes over 24 hours. According to Emmy Watch, the Marvin 362 calibre has a 15-jewel lever escapement, a frequency of 18,000 vph and a power reserve of 39 hours. It is a 13 ligne movement with a diameter of 29.6 mm. The watch was in production from c1916 and was available in at least two variants, stem set and pin set.
Case and dial
The silver case is 35 mm wide, excluding crown and fixed wire lugs. It is slightly larger than the typical trench watch of 1915. All imported watches had to be assayed in Britain after 1907, so this case is hallmarked. In this particular case, the sponsor was Arthur George Rendell. He was an employee of Robert Pringle & Sons, which, at the time, was the UK’s largest wholesaler of jewellery, silverware, clocks and watches. Interestingly, the screw-in back is hallmarked “London 1915” with a different sponsor, George Stockwell. This suggests the back cover is a period replacement, as perhaps the original was lost or damaged.
On the exterior of the back is an engraving: “Maxn Dalison, Nov 1, 1916”, perhaps the original owner’s name and a significant date. Engravings do detract from the overall originality, and this may be a turn-off for some collectors. Perhaps the military history behind the former owner would enhance the provenance. Overall, the case is in good condition, with only very minor wear
The watch has a hinged half-hunter cover. The front cover’s glass window lets you read the time without opening it. The button to open the front cover is between the bottom lugs. The glass window is surrounded by enamel-filled numerals. Underneath, the white enamel dial is signed “Harrods” beneath the 12 o’clock marker. There is an old chip near the 5 o’clock numeral, but the original blued-steel hands are intact. The crystal lens is clear and in fine condition
Summary
It is a little disappointing to have missed out on this watch, but the research, as always, was rewarding. It’s a fine example of Marvin’s work and of the trench-watch era. The hallmarks, engraving and Harrods signature all give it a story beyond just keeping time. Perhaps, one day, another similar piece turns up for sale. In the meantime, we are grateful for what we learned and pleased to share it here with fellow collectors.