The present presentation watch is possibly the earliest known example of a Swiss Federal Rifle Championship watch. In 1836, the first championship took place in Lausanne and until 1939 each year a watch was awarded to the winner. Later, several watches were given out to the finalists.
According to the inscription on the movement, the watch was offered by the Police Corps of Geneva on the occasion of the 1844 tournament, also commemorating the 400th anniversary of the battle of St. Jacob, shown on the large rectangular cartouche in the centre of the enamelled case back. Underneath, the names of the commanders fallen during the battle, are listed. At the top, the flags of the cantons part of the Old Swiss Confederacy.
Jean L. Martin, author of 8 volumes dedicated to historic watches and in particular presentation watches of Swiss Rifle Championships, states that he has not seen another example of this type and believes that it is unique.
The Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs was fought between the Old Swiss Confederacy and French (mostly Armagnac) mercenaries, on the banks of the river Birs. The battle took place on 26 August 1444 and was part of the Old Zürich War. The site of the battle was near Münchenstein, Switzerland, just above 1 km outside the city walls of Basel, today within Basel's St-Alban district.