Mary F. Starr - Waltham Depollier Watch Gallery
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Jacques Depollier & Son Watch Company
​​Jacques Depollier was a Swiss-born jeweler who established a New York firm in 1877, manufacturing and wholesaling pocket watch cases to Waltham, Elgin, etc.
​WW1 was the birth of the "trench watch" as a more practical alternative to the pocket watch. Firms like Depollier advertised heavily to convince men that "wristlets" were "manly", and not just for women. By 1917, Depollier was not only making the most advanced, battle-tested watch cases, but also selling complete watches with Elgin, Illinois, and Waltham movements. Their most famous model was the "D-D Khaki" trench watch, which was heavily advertised and widely sold. ​​​​
Trench Watch Historian
Stan Czubernat
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Stan Czubernat has extensively documented J. Depollier & Son trench watches in three incredibly valuable books, "Waltham Trench Watches of the Great War", "Elgin Trench Watches of the Great War", and "The Inconvenient Truth about the World's First Waterproof Watch, the Story of Charles Depollier and his Waterproof Trench Watches of the Great War". ​
Stan's website, www.lrfantiquewatches.com, is a treasure trove of information about WW1 wristwatches.
Mary's Waltham Depollier Trench Watch​
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Mary purchased a 1918 solid silver Depollier-cased trench watch with a 3-0 size, 15-jewel Waltham movement. It featured a "shadow box" dial and radium-painted numbers & hands. Her watch is #203K in the 1917 Depollier catalog (see photo below). ​​Mary's watch retains its original (and well-worn) leather watch strap.​
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​The list price was $24, plus $3 for the Radium dial; the retail price was around $33 (almost $675 in 2025 dollars).​
