Lot 10

J. Assmann

Gold gab ich für Eisen

A historically interesting burnished steel Glashuette pocket watch in near mint condition, made in 1A quality with original box

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It is a changeful story that leads us from the making of this timepiece in the 1890s to World War I – it is one of the very few watches produced by Julius Assmann, where movement number and case number do not match.
In 1916 - when wartime Germany was in need of resources and foreign currencies - watch number 11440 was taken from its gold case and fitted into the iron case. To reward this dedication, the Bank of Germany awarded a medal with the inscription "Gold gab ich zur Wehr, Eisen nahm ich zur Ehr" (I gave gold for the country and took iron for honour); the inscription was repeated on a watch chain, which also beared the year "1916 - In eiserner Zeit" (1916 – an iron time). Unfortunately, the medal and original chain are no longer available. A similar call for donations had been made before in the time of the Prussian kingdom. Princess Marianne of Prussia asked Prussian women to donate their gold in exchange for iron jewellery with the inscription "Gold gab ich für Eisen" (I gave gold for iron).