Titus wristwatch, 1950s

This Titus Geneve wristwatch dates from the 1950s and is a recent addition to the Set Back in Time collection. The Titus brand is not a household name, nor is it an investment piece. The ETA movement is good quality, but not a high-end, in-house calibre. So why did one of our group buy this watch? Simply because he liked the look of it. This is something that is often forgotten in the snobbish world of vintage watch collecting… buy what you like and enjoy it.

Solvil et Titus

Paul Ditisheim (1868 to 1945) was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, into a prosperous family closely connected with the Swiss watch trade. His father, Gaspard Ditisheim, and uncle, Maurice Ditisheim, founded Vulcain, the company later known for the Cricket alarm watch. After studying at the École Industrielle and the Watchmaking School of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Ditisheim gained experience with several respected manufacturers before establishing Solvil et Titus in 1892. He registered “Paul Ditisheim” as a trademark in 1894 (Paul Ditisheim at Wikipedia).

Chronometers

Ditisheim became one of the leading authorities on precision timekeeping. His work focused on improving the accuracy of chronometers by reducing the effects of temperature changes on watch movements. His most significant development was the “affix” balance, which improves accuracy by compensating for temperature variations. Ditisheim earned international recognition through observatory timing trials, including awards at the Kew Observatory in England and the Neuchâtel Observatory in Switzerland. In 1912, a Paul Ditisheim chronometer set a world chronometric record at the Royal Kew Observatory (Grail Watch Wiki).

In 1918, Ditisheim registered the trademarks Solvil and Titus in Switzerland. Interestingly, he had registered the trademark Ditis, much earlier in 1894 (Mikrolisk). The name Solvil refers to Sonvilier, a village in the Swiss Jura Mountains where the brand’s original factory was located. The name Titus pays tribute to the first-century Roman Emperor. Lastly, the trademark Ditis is likely the first five letters of Ditisheim’s surname.

Transfer of ownership

Ditisheim sold the company to Swiss businessman Paul-Bernard Vogel in 1930, after which the business relocated its headquarters to Geneva. The Paul Ditisheim name remained closely associated with the business and continued to appear in its advertising for many years. Under Vogel’s ownership, the company continued to market watches under three distinct brands. Solvil represented the premium range and carried forward Paul Ditisheim’s reputation for high-quality watchmaking. Ditis focused on chronometers, while Titus offered a range of reliable watches at more affordable prices (Solvil et Titus at Grail Watch Wiki).

The Titus brand

Despite being an affordably priced watch, the Titus name appears on a range of watches that appear higher-end. These include chronographs, tachymeters, dive watches and those cased in solid gold, typically 18ct rose gold.

ETA 1080 movement

The ETA 1080 watch movement is a manual-wind movement that features 17 jewels, Incabloc shock protection, a frequency of 18,000 vph and a power reserve of 40 hours (Ranfft DB). The ETA 1080 was in production from 1950. The first first selfwinding ETA movement, the ETA 1256, was based on the ETA 1080.

Case and dial

The watch measures 30mm in diameter excluding the winding crown and the lugs. Although small for a modern watch, this was a reasonable size for a gentleman’s timepiece in the 1950s. In the current era, this would suit a slimmer wrist. The case is gold-plated, while the screw-on case back is stainless steel. The case back states that the watch is water-resistant and antimagnetic. However, as with any vintage watch, it should be shielded from water and moisture. “Antimagnetic” indicates the movement has been fitted with an anti-magnetic hairspring. The plain winding crown is missing the Titus wreath logo.

The acrylic lens is in very good condition. The “Titus Geneve” signed dial is in its original finish with original hands and centre seconds hand. It is an eye-catching two-tone dial with the hour markers ringed with a salmon-pink band. The watch features a vintage brown leather strap with a plain gold-plated buckle.

Summary

Titus will never become a household name or become an investment piece. However, at Set Back in Time, we must admit, it is a striking watch which remains practical despite its years. It’s something relatively inexpensive in the vintage watch world, and gives a great deal of pleasure to its new owner. What more could a vintage watch collector ask for?