Harvel Watch Co. - WWII Field Watch - Shockabsorber - Sub Seconds- Circa 1943

Built during WWII in approximately 1943, this field watch was built to take punishment. This Harvel presents with the stepped angular bezel profile and tool-oriented geometry that defined serious men's watches of the period. The dial has aged to a warm, uneven cream over eighty years, the Arabic numerals still fully legible, the  small seconds subdial at six retaining its texture and decoration. The blued steel hands carry a warm honey-toned lume that has aged to a rich amber, giving the watch a visual warmth that reads even better in person than in photographs.

Henry Holland Harteveldt established the Harvel Watch Co. in New York in 1933, building a brand around high quality imported Swiss movements assembled and sold under the Harvel name for the American market. The company sponsored radio news programs and served as the official watch of the Miss America pageant in the early 1940s. Harvel positioned themselves as the watch that timed Hollywood's stars. But alongside the glamour, Harvel also produced a serious line of men's field watches like this one. Period accounts include a USMC soldier claiming a Harvel field watch could withstand the shock of a .50 caliber machine gun. The Shockabsorber specification on this dial suggests they took that reputation seriously.

The movement is signed Harvel Watch Co., Seventeen 17 Jewels, Swiss Unadjusted, visible and well-preserved, with unique and beautiful stars engraved on the movement itself. The caseback is stamped Stainless Steel Back with serial number 1280462.

Another compelling element of this watch is the period-correct leather strap with a rigid internal metal core, stiff enough to hold its shape and curve to the wrist rather than draping like modern leather. It is the kind of structured field strap that was paired with utility watches during WWII, and it remains entirely wearable today.

The watch is keeping time and running as it should.

Terms: Please review all photos carefully as they are a part of the listing. This is a vintage timepiece. Accuracy, power reserve, and water resistance are not guaranteed. Vintage watches may require periodic service. Performance can vary with wear, temperature, and position.

I am happy to service any unserviced watch listed on the site — please inquire about service charges when purchasing.

All sales final.