St. Gallen Rescue Watch: British Museum Exhibit

Bill's discovery of the St Gallen Rescue watch in the British Museum's collection highlights the historical significance of this 'disinfectable' timepiece. His post not only details the unique features of the original St Gallen model but also draws a compelling connection to the PuristSPro All-Black Rescue (PPro ABR) limited edition, a cherished 'club watch' among collectors. This piece offers a fascinating look into a watch designed for utility and its unexpected journey into a prestigious museum.

Some horology buffs and most PuristS will be aware that the PuristSPro All-Black Rescue watch (PPro ABR) is a 178-piece limited edition that is worn with pride as a PuristS' "club watch".  It is a customised derivative with 31 modifications from the original St Gallen Rescue – the first of the 'Disinfectible' wristwatches.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the following entry in the British Museum collection (Europe section):

www.britishmuseum.org

Description
St. Gallen automatic 'disinfectable' wrist-watch.
Automatic wrist-watch with Swiss club-tooth lever and escapement.
Black square-pattern dial with dots at the hours and arrow-heads at 12 and 6 o'clock. An inner circle for 24 hours numbered 13,14,16,17,19, 20, 22, 23. The seconds circle coloured dark green between 9 and 15 seconds and light green between 45 and 55 seconds. White-painted baton hour and minute-hands. Cross-pattern centre seconds hand with arrow-head pointers, three green-painted and one red. Around the bezel calibrations 50-180 for pulsation and 11-60 for respiration. Grey-coloured silicone rubber wrist-strap.

Inscriptions
Inscription Type: inscription
Inscription Position: dial
Inscription Content: St Gallen
Rescue Automatic

Dimensions
Diameter: 42.1 millimetres (watch)
Thickness: 11.5 millimetres (watch)
Length: 260.5 millimetres (overall length)

Curator's comments
An early version of the 'Disinfectable' made in the early stages of development of the watch, presented by Stuart McDouall, a close friend of Ashley Lung, consultant to St. Gallen.

I guess that with recent outbreaks of influenza, the historical significance of a disinfectible wristwatch needs to be documented.

I wonder if the PPro ABR watch will ever achieve similar academic significance when they uncover the mythical "Cult of The PuristS" from the sands of time, in a thousand years?  

Click here to buy ABR