#vintagetimepieces

Classic beauty from Strickland Vintage Watches. Yoko is wearing a 1950s era pink gold Hamilton wristwatch.

In 1927, Isidore Ditesheim invented a unique mechanism for the watch known as 'Non-Stop,' which wound the movement when the case was opened and closed, eliminating the need for manual winding. This innovation contributed to the Ermeto winning the grand prize at the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. By 1930, Huguenin Frères had introduced another patent for an automatic strut that deployed when the case was opened.

This work of tactile art and horological history was available in various metal cases (platinum, gold, silver, vermeil, steel) with finishes like lacquer, niello, enamel, and guilloché enamel. Although the case shape remained consistent, the style of dials and hands evolved, helping to date specific pieces. It could be used with or without a chain and often featured a folding strut to serve as a travel clock.

Notable owners included Pope Pius XI, King Albert I of Belgium, King Edward VIII, Clara Bow, Andy Warhol (who owned at least six), and His Majesty King Charles III, whose Ermeto was stolen and later returned in 1994. It’s also said that an early model was presented to Albert Einstein.