A Rare Sight: Victorinox Swiss Army Solar Compass Limited Edition Watch Spied for Sale

There’s nothing quite like spotting an old friend - particularly when it’s a rare, coveted timepiece like the Victorinox Swiss Army Solar Compass Limited Edition popping up on eBay. This watch has captured significant attention due to its standout position on the list of top 10 rarest Swiss Army timepieces, making its appearance a worthy mention.

This particular offering was solely for the watch; no box or accompanying paperwork were included. In cases of limited edition releases, the latter often provides additional information about the watch that might not be widely known, lending more significance to their absence for this particular sale. Historically, Swiss Army would release limited editions to debut a new model and it’s in the accompanying literature that the company’s intent for each specific variant becomes more clear. In absence of such information for this model, some details will remain unknown.

Exterior details of the watch are just as compelling. The timepiece doesn’t feature a sweeping seconds hand or seconds sub-dial as expected but instead opts for a more simplistic design, only showing hours and minutes. Some watch enthusiasts, who prefer more movement on the dial or proof of mechanical activity inside, might find it less appealing.

On the other hand, the simple, bold, standard-issue Solar Compass watches, equipped with a second hand, have more readily available variants.

A glance at the case back of the Limited Edition model reveals a high-spec, hand-winding mechanical ETA 6497. These 17-jewel movements come in varying qualities and their highest level, ’elabore,’ features blued screws and minor embellishments like Geneva stripes. However, the movement in this watch looks slightly different from the images found online and the regulator index often seen on these models is obscured, hinting at a captivating mystery beneath its austere design.

This Victorinox Swiss Army Solar Compass Limited Edition is undoubtedly a coveted treasure for any committed watch collector; a beautiful blend of Swiss craftsmanship, limited availability, and an understated design.