# **Watchword for History's Most Fabulous, Interesting, and Patriotic Watch**

The Oyster Watch, a status symbol for men and women for over a century, is a watertight and shockproof timepiece that comes in a wide variety of styles and colours and proclaims loudly and proudly that its wearer is somebody, even if that somebody isn't very important. However, many notable people throughout history have opted to load down their wrists with the pinnacle of timepieces.

In 1905, an American by the name of Hans Wilsdorf and an Englishman by the name of Alfred Davis pooled their resources to enter the watch component import industry in the land of jolly old England.

Their strategy consisted of bringing in the best Swiss [watch box](https://modernwatchbox.com/collections/watch-box) mechanisms and installing them in watch casings made in their home country. After that, they marketed the high-quality timepieces to jewellery shops, where their branding was added.

Wilsdorf and his team realised they were on to something good, so they came up with the catchy moniker "Oyster" and filed a patent for it. What does Oyster mean? Wilsdorf simply enjoyed the way the name sounded when said aloud. On this basis, it's probably for the best that he didn't like the word "huckleberry," because otherwise the best watch ever would be called that.

Wilsdorf, who was restless to a fault, left England around 1919 with all of his watch springs, heading to Geneva, Switzerland, the epicentre of the watchmaking industry. What is his logic? His pricey timepieces were, in his opinion, a direct result of the excessive import and export duties of the era. Imagine that!

In 1960, Wilsdorf tripped and died, but not before leaving behind a story so fantastic it could have been turned into a film. The man was not only an exceptional watchmaker; he was to the watch industry what DeBeers was to the diamond industry. We're talking about an unrepentant salesman who was constantly coming up with new strategies to advertise his timepieces. He wasn't only a patriot to the United Kingdom; he was a patriot to the world, and he regularly helped out military heroes from other countries, especially pilots of all hues.

According to legend, Wilsdorf's military career began in World War II, when the British pilots were given their version of the GI (General Issue) government watch to wear on missions over Europe. They were fine timepieces, and I have no doubt that they would sell for a pretty penny as antiques in the present day, but back then, the aviators just weren't that into them.

Consider this. In the air, a fighter pilot had to act as his navigator. The objective included accurately measuring the passage of time in case he was separated from the group and had to make his way back to England. A defective timepiece was the last thing they wanted. Every opportunity to purchase one of the now-iconic Oyster watches was seized. They were confident pilots who deserved fine timepieces.

Sadly, not all of the birds that took to the air returned to the barn. Lucky Germans occasionally managed to shoot them down. What's less well-known is that the Germans, perhaps to safeguard the unfortunate pilot, confiscated any dubious items upon check-in to the Hotel Barbed Wire. Among these was the Oyster watches they had so proudly purchased.

You've probably seen ancient war movies when the winner takes the loser's watch off his wrist as a symbol of victory. Right? Like me, you probably immediately thought of a Timex when you saw that. The scriptwriter, alas, was aware that the deceased cop's arm held an Oyster.

In 1944, once Wilsdorf learned of the mistreatment of his heroes, he offered to sell the airmen new Oysters and even had some delivered to prisoners. The airmen were also assured that they would not have to make any financial contributions until the war was over.

After some time had passed, American soldiers stationed in Europe learned of Wilsdorf and his Oyster offer, and they were so impressed that they naturally marketed the product when they returned home at the end of the war. It was largely due to his kindness during the war that the name "Oyster" became ingrained in American folklore at this time.

Oyster maintained regular contact with the heroic pilots for many years after the war ended. Hollywood star Chuck Yeager (of "The Right Stuff") was honoured for his combat missions by being presented with an Oyster, which he wore on his wrist during his record-breaking flight faster than the speed of sound.

Much later, early aviatrix Pussy Galore, who was working for Goldfinger at the time, proudly wore one on her wrist as she did her part for the king and nation while working under James Bond, who also wore one, however, it is unclear if the Oyster was purchased or given. They probably both knew when to get up for tea every day.