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Lot Essay
Since its introduction into the market in 1931, the Reverso has remained a lasting symbol for the classic beauty of Art Deco style. Originally created for polo players with the aim of using the case back as a shield thus protecting the glass and dial, it is without doubt a legendary watch sought after by collectors and watch lovers.
Right from the start it became the favorite timepiece not only for polo players. The French movie director Jean-Claude Lelouche for example, whose Reverso was engraved with his lucky number 13, or the English gentleman who, for obvious reasons wished to remain anonymous, as he had the combination of his safe engraved to the case back.
It was also popular reward for athletes, such as the present lot for example, which is part of the Reverso watches purchased by the Swiss Football Association from Gübelin in 1938. The watches were then given to the members of the Swiss National Team to thank them for their successful performance during the World Cup in Paris when the Swiss beat Germany 4:2. The match against Germany was a 1st round replay, played on 9 June 1938 at Parc des Princes. The first match played on 4 June 1938 had ended in a 1:1 draw.
The engraved Reverso of Sirio Vernati, another member of the victorious team, is illustrated in "Reverso - The Living Legend" by Manfred Fritz, p. 60.
Willi Huber, the former owner of this watch, was the goalkeeper during this historically important game. From his early youth on, Huber used to play football where and whenever he had a chance to. At the age of 15 he started his career in the team of "La Sarraz" in the French part of Switzerland before joining junior league in Zurich. On 19 November 1933 the 20-year-old Willi Huber guarded for the first time the goal of the Swiss national football team. In 1943 he retired from football to become an architect but the most memorable of all the highlights of his career as a professional football player is without a doubt the victory over Germany in 1938.
Right from the start it became the favorite timepiece not only for polo players. The French movie director Jean-Claude Lelouche for example, whose Reverso was engraved with his lucky number 13, or the English gentleman who, for obvious reasons wished to remain anonymous, as he had the combination of his safe engraved to the case back.
It was also popular reward for athletes, such as the present lot for example, which is part of the Reverso watches purchased by the Swiss Football Association from Gübelin in 1938. The watches were then given to the members of the Swiss National Team to thank them for their successful performance during the World Cup in Paris when the Swiss beat Germany 4:2. The match against Germany was a 1st round replay, played on 9 June 1938 at Parc des Princes. The first match played on 4 June 1938 had ended in a 1:1 draw.
The engraved Reverso of Sirio Vernati, another member of the victorious team, is illustrated in "Reverso - The Living Legend" by Manfred Fritz, p. 60.
Willi Huber, the former owner of this watch, was the goalkeeper during this historically important game. From his early youth on, Huber used to play football where and whenever he had a chance to. At the age of 15 he started his career in the team of "La Sarraz" in the French part of Switzerland before joining junior league in Zurich. On 19 November 1933 the 20-year-old Willi Huber guarded for the first time the goal of the Swiss national football team. In 1943 he retired from football to become an architect but the most memorable of all the highlights of his career as a professional football player is without a doubt the victory over Germany in 1938.