Ebauches SA, 475A, P2-V1 Prototype, 1959
Category: functional prototype, aesthetic prototype
Description: Asymmetrical, stainless steel cased prototype. Stainless steel snap back containing rechargeable battery, with no engravings, but with two recesses, one for each ‘crown’ tube. White dial with raised, silver coloured, fancy 15min indexes, black printed 5min indexes. Black printed ‘Electric’ under ’12, ‘Swiss Made’ below ‘6’. Blue printed ‘475 A’ above ‘6’. Silver coloured hour and minute hands, black (turned violet) seconds hand with lightning symbol tail. Stainless steel crown. Additional metal plug for battery recharging at ‘9’, covered with stainless steel, protective cap with raised lightning symbol.
Dimensions: 35.4mm (without crowns), lug – lug: 43.4mm, lug – lug, lug width: 18mm
Movement: 475 P2 Prototype movement, unumbered
Additional info: This piece represents one of the two versions of the second iteration of the first Swiss made battery driven wrist watch prototypes. The caliber identification is set and named 475. This is the first variant (V1) of this caliber, being alimented by one, large rechargeable battery. The plug for recharging the battery has now a metal cap with raised lightning symbol.
As mentioned in the parent section, one other version of the same caliber would be alimented by a ‘normal’, small battery also located in the back of the bi-parted case back.
The design is clearly leaned on the ones by Richard Arbib for Hamilton. This shows the intention of frontally challenging the first battery driven, marketed watch by Hamilton. This design will not be marketed, finally the Swiss will chose a conventional, symmetrical watch design witch remains in line with their mechanical output. This shows a low commitment to the raising space age design which was deputed in the USA.
This prototype version was used as promotion for the Swiss electromechanical watch. It was shown in television interviews, on flyers and also in the instruction manual of the marketed version (which will look very different, as mentioned). This version was also shown at the Basle fair 1960. Moreover, this prototype version exists with different dial prints and one prototype case is known, where this asymmetrical case design was used for the version using one conventional battery.
The next generation of prototypes (P3) will be of the aesthetic group and will already feature the definitive caliber L4750.
Pictures credit: Yves Müller; visiuns.com
Provenance: Ex Hans Baumann collection
Published: Bramaz H.-R., Baumann H.; Die Elektrische Armbanduhr, Band 1, Verlag Stutz Druck AG, Wädenswil, 2013, page 45, picture 5
Electric Watch Prototypes 