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1940s RECTA Military DH Wristwatch Vintage German Army WWII Watch
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THIS LIMITED WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS, WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.
IF THE MERCHANDISE YOU PURCHASE FROM Secondhand Horology, LLC (“Secondhand Horology”, “WE”, OR “US”) IS SUBJECT TO A THIRD PARTY WARRANTY, THEN THE MERCHANDISE WILL BE GOVERNED BY SUCH THIRD PARTY WARRANTY (TO THE EXTENT SUCH THIRD PARTY WARRANTY IS ASSIGNABLE BY US TO YOU) AND WILL NOT BE GOVERNED BY THIS LIMITED WARRANTY. IF THE MERCHANDISE YOU PURCHASE FROM US IS NOT SUBJECT TO A THIRD PARTY WARRANTY, Secondhand Horology WARRANTS THAT DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD (DEFINED BELOW), THE MERCHANDISE THAT YOU PURCHASED FROM US WILL BE FREE FROM DEFECTS IN MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP.
WE LIMIT THE DURATION AND REMEDIES OF ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD.
SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE IS LIMITED TO REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE MERCHANDISE (INCLUDING THE PARTS THEREIN) AS DESCRIBED BELOW IN THIS WARRANTY STATEMENT.
WHO MAY USE THIS WARRANTY?
Secondhand Horology extends this limited warranty only to the consumer who originally purchased the merchandise (“you”) from Secondhand Horology. It does not extend to any subsequent owner or other transferee of the merchandise.
WHAT DOES THIS WARRANTY COVER?
This limited warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship of the merchandise for the Warranty Period as defined below.
WHAT DOES THIS WARRANTY NOT COVER?
This limited warranty does not cover any damage due to: (a) transportation; (b) storage; (c) improper use; (d) failure to follow the merchandise instructions or to perform any preventive maintenance; (e) modifications; (f) unauthorized repair; (g) normal wear and tear; or (h) external causes such as accidents, abuse, or other actions or events beyond our reasonable control.
WHAT IS THE PERIOD OF COVERAGE?
If the merchandise or any portion of the merchandise that you purchase is subject to a third party warranty, Secondhand Horology hereby assigns to you all of its rights and remedies under such warranty to the extent that such rights and remedies are assignable. If the merchandise or any portion of the merchandise is not subject to any other warranty as of the date of purchase by you, and subject to the terms of this Limited Warranty, Secondhand Horology
warrants that the merchandise shall be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase by you (the “Warranty Period”). The Warranty Period is not extended if we repair or replace the merchandise. We may change the availability of this limited warranty at our discretion, but any changes will not be retroactive.
WHAT ARE YOUR REMEDIES UNDER THIS WARRANTY?
With respect to any defective merchandise during the Warranty Period, we will, in our sole discretion repair or replace such merchandise (or the defective part) free of charge. We will also pay for shipping and handling fees to return the repaired or replacement merchandise to you if we elect to repair or replace the defective merchandise.
HOW DO YOU OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE?
To obtain warranty service, you must call +1(217)-802-6098 or email our Customer Service Department at info@secondhandhorology.com during the Warranty Period to obtain a Defective Merchandise Authorization (“DMA”) number. Read more about our return and warranty service policies.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
THE REMEDIES DESCRIBED ABOVE ARE YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES AND OUR ENTIRE LIABILITY FOR ANY BREACH OF THIS LIMITED WARRANTY. OUR LIABILITY SHALL UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEED THE ACTUAL AMOUNT PAID BY YOU FOR THE DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE, NOR SHALL WE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BE LIABLE FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR LOSSES, WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT.
SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
Secondhand Horology is honored to have the opportunity to serve you. That is why we stand by all of our products with a full 12-month limited warranty. If an item we sell you should fail as a result of a manufacturer's defect at any time during the first 12 months, we will repair or replace the item at absolutely no cost to you.
If your watch has any symptoms of abnormally gaining time, losing time, or not keeping proper time please do not hesitate to contact us by phone or email. If it is determined by Secondhand Horology that a repair under warranty is required one of our trained watch professionals will direct you on how to safely and efficiently ship the watch to us.
Not covered by warranty:
- Regular wear-and-tear from normal use.
- External damage to the product. Any damages resulting from wear to the watch case, crystal/glass, watch bracelet, watch bezel, straps, screws, crown/stem, finishes, clasps/buckles, or any other physical damage to the watch.
- Defects caused by outside force or improper use. Consequential and incidental damages.
- The loss of precious, semi-precious stones from settings.
- Outside modifications and third party repair attempts of any kind will void the warranty.
- Any damage if used under conditions which exceed the watch manufacturer’s water resistance guidelines.
- Watches that are labeled as water resistant feature a screw down crown. The crown must be screwed down properly at all times to keep the watch casing watertight. Water damage is not covered under the warranty unless it is proven defective by the Secondhand Horology.
- Shipping cost to Secondhand Horology.
Secondhand Horology is determined to stand behind every part of your shopping experience. The Secondhand Horology warranty allows you to make a completely risk-free purchase. This has been our policy and our promise since we began nearly three decades ago serving customers on a local level. Now, we are standing by this policy as we serve online customers from around the world. We look forward to serving you and giving you the incredible value and experience you deserve.
RECTA S.A.
Recta is a Swiss watch company with a history that dates back to the late 19th century. In 1897, Antoine Muller (1861-1930) and Alcide Vaucher (1860-1924) founded a watch factory “Muller & Vaucher, Fabrique d’Horlogerie” in Biel, Switzerland. One year later, in 1898, they registered the brand “Recta S.A.” for watches, watch parts, and packaging. The company specialized in producing high-quality pocket watches, including chronometers with a certification from the observatory. They also manufactured watch movements, supplying movements to other watchmakers.
By 1902, an own factory building was built in Biel and in 1913 the company expanded and built a larger factory. Eduard Tièche joined as head of sales in 1905 and remained until 1946. In 1915, Recta added compasses to its product line although it continued to make pocket watches and movements. The company was renamed to “Recta SA, Fabrique d’Horlogerie” in 1917.
In the 1920s, Recta was known for advertising for high grade watches and observatory certified chronometers using the Geneva seal, the quality stamp from the Geneva testing office “Bureau Officiel de l’Etat pour le contrôle facultatif des montres de Genève”. The company also participated in several chronometer competitions held by the Neuchâtel Observatory.
Recta also became particularly well-known for its military watches. The brand produced watches for various military forces, including the Swiss Army. These timepieces were valued for their robustness and precision, meeting the demanding requirements of military use. In addition to military watches, Recta also produced sports watches suitable for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers.
In 1959, Marchand & Jobin, London, began importing Recta wristwatches to the UK. Recta ceased making watches in 1984 when the company was acquired by the Swiss watch company Mondaine. Mondaine is famous for its iconic Swiss Railway Watch design. The acquisition allowed Recta to benefit from Mondaine's resources and distribution channels.
Today, Recta continues to produce watches under the Mondaine Group. The brand maintains its focus on quality, precision, and functionality, appealing to both watch collectors and outdoor enthusiasts.
RECTA
German Army WWII
DH Wristwatch
A perfect example of a soldier issued timepiece from the Second World War.
During WWII the German Military needed a huge number of timepieces, both wrist, pocket and mounted. To fulfill these requirements, they turned to a number of Swiss watch manufacturers to meet the demands. The little official evidence that exists indicate that the watches started to be supplied in 1942 when the demand outstripped the German watch industry’s ability to produce watches domestically. Until 1944, when the supply stopped in due to the increasing difficulties the Swiss watch industry had in obtaining raw materials.
While no official specification has been found, it appears the contracts for these timepieces specified that the watches should be water resistant, the dials were required to be black with luminous numerals and hands with a small subsidiary second dial at 6 o’clock position and the movements shock protected.
Apparently, Germany placed many small contracts with a large number of companies in order to receive as many watches in as short a time as possible (bearing in mind the limited scope for watch companies of the 1940s) to suddenly provide thousands of additional watches to a set specification. Germany ordered watches from various Swiss watch manufacturers during WWII and Recta was one of those suppliers. Today we a wonderful example of that approach, a vintage military timepiece, it is a Recta German Army wristwatch, case serial number 557084 and dated from the early 1940s during the WWII era.
It is a manual wind watch powered by a Recta shock absorber (commonly unsigned) 15 jewels movement, sub-second.
Cased in a 32.5mm round chrome plated case and stainless-steel back, it also has a separate movement holder/spacer that fitted inside the case and held the dial and movement firmly in place in the center of the case.
As per the contract specification, this watch still has the original black dial (showing some age and patina) with radium luminous Arabic Numerals, “railroad” minute/second track and sub-second hand, luminous matching hands. The dial is also signed with the Recta name/logo.
This watch comes with a new-old-stock blue and yellow nylon Nato one-piece strap.
This watch is in good condition. Runs very well, keeps great time.
Thank you for looking! Please feel free to contact us with any questions, or respectful offers.
Movement:
RECTA
Case Markings:
557084
GB
ROSTFREI
STAHL BODEN
Measurements (mm):
Case Diameter 32.5
Case Diameter w/Crown 35.8
Case Lug to Lug 36.7
Case Thickness 8.6
Lug Width 17
Band Width 17
Vintage watches are traditionally smaller than today's watches. Men’s watches typically measure between 29-36mm wide (some larger, some smaller) excluding the crown. In the listing details we typically try to do our best to list all pertinent dimensions of a watch. If you don't see it, or we failed to do so, please reach out to us. Women’s watches from the 1900s-1970s were also much smaller than today's offerings. Please also feel free to ask any questions you have pertaining to size.
We prefer to shoot photographs outside when weather is permitting. However, when we shoot indoors, please be aware that we shoot our photographs inside of lightboxes that are lit with 360 LED bulbs. This indeed magnifies any flaws. Usually, they are much less obvious to the naked eye. Having said that, we never photoshop any of our photography, remove blemishes, etc. We adjust lighting when necessary, but what you see is what you are getting, and we take pride in that.
The condition is pre-owned.
The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear but is fully operational and functions as intended.
Please review the photos and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
It will be carefully packed.
Please view our other listings.
Thank you for looking!
WA-0626
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