Nisus 17 Jewels Incabloc Tonneau-Case Date
Dress/Casual Watch · Nisus (Manufacture d'Horlogerie Nisus SA); an independent Swiss brand founded in Pery. Tier: Mid-range vintage Swiss brand.
Period: Vintage / Mid-Century Modern (Late 1960s to early 1970s). The cushion/tonneau case shape and chunky applied block indices are classic indicators of late 1960s design transition into the funkiest 70s aesthetics.
Type
Dress/Casual Watch
Brand
Nisus (Manufacture d'Horlogerie Nisus SA); an independent Swiss brand founded in Pery. Tier: Mid-range vintage Swiss brand.
Movement
Manual/Hand-wound mechanical movement, likely a Swiss ETA or A. Schild (AS) caliber; 17 Jewels, Incabloc shock protection system.
Dimensions
Diameter: 34mm-36mm (excluding crown); Thickness: 10mm; Lug-to-Lug: 40mm-42mm; Lug Width: 18mm. It wears larger due to the wide cushion-style case profile.
Description
This Nisus is a charming example of the 'cushion' case era of watch design. It bridges the gap between formal dress watches and the more robust tool watches of the early 70s. The monochrome gold aesthetic creates a warm, vintage presence on the wrist that is quintessentially mid-century.
Key Features
Tonneau/Cushion case shape; 17 Jewel Incabloc movement; distinctive 'striped' block indices; 'Swiss Made' signature at 6 o'clock.
Dial Description
Champagne/Gold sunburst dial with applied rectangular 'block' indices featuring black central stripes. Baton-style hands with black inserts, center seconds, and a date window at the 3 o'clock position.
Case Material
Yellow Gold Plated (likely 10-20 microns) over a base metal or stainless steel core; polished finishing with visible wear on the lugs.
Crystal Type
Acrylic (Plexiglass), domed. Shows significant surface scratches and a possible internal craze/crack near the center.
Bezel Details
Integrated fixed bezel; part of the cushion case design; polished gold finish.
Crown & Pushers
Standard push-pull crown at 3 o'clock; small diameter, likely original, showing gold-plating wear.
Bracelet or Strap
Tan/Brown textured calf leather strap with a pebbled grain; aftermarket replacement with matching stitching and a gold-tone pin buckle.
Caseback Details
Likely a screw-down or snap-on stainless steel caseback; expected text includes 'Stainless Steel Back', 'Swiss Made', and 'Antimagnetic'.
Movement Type
Manual/Hand-wound mechanical movement, likely a Swiss ETA or A. Schild (AS) caliber; 17 Jewels, Incabloc shock protection system.
Water Resistance
Non-water resistant by modern standards. Originally rated 'Water Resistant' or 'Dustproof', but seals are likely perished.
Origin & Provenance
Swiss Made; manufactured in the Pery/Bienne region of Switzerland.
Age Estimate
Circa 1968 - 1974. The logo font and 'Incabloc' signature combined with the indices are hallmarks of this era.
Cultural Significance
Represents the 'Golden Age' of affordable Swiss mechanical watchmaking before the Quartz Crisis of the mid-70s nearly wiped out smaller manufacturers like Nisus.
Condition Notes
Fair to Good. The crystal has heavy scratching. The gold plating is wearing thin on the lug edges (brassing). The dial remains clean with some minor oxidation on the hands.
Value Estimate
$100 - $250 USD. Value is mostly sentimental/aesthetic; price varies based on movement cleanliness and plating integrity.
Care & Maintenance
Mechanical service every 5 years; avoid all water contact as vintage seals are likely non-functional; do not over-wind the manual movement.
Similar Watches
Vintage Omega Geneve (cushion case), Tissot Visodate (vintage), or Certina Blue Ribbon. These used similar Swiss movements but often carried higher brand prestige.
Interesting Facts
Nisus was known for producing reliable, everyday watches and even supplied some military-spec watches to the German forces during WWII, though this civilian model is purely a design piece.