In reply to Interesting notion… by mybulova_admin
Lapel Pins with stones were common service awards many times given starting at 5 yr service, Watches usually for retirements. Here is a loose watchband in my collection with stones and a company logo. Stone color for years varied from company to company. In the case of this band below, a diamond was 10 and ruby was 5. Verified by the woman I got it from.
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I suspect this may also help explain some of the Squadrons (hooded lugs) and other men's watches with large spaces between ends of crystals and lugs we see with applied jewels on the case exteriors. The mounts seem pretty consistently a triangle. An award company could modify a bunch of them and offer them as a retirement gift option, sometimes offering the choice of also having it engraved or not. Award Company supplied the watch and business supplied the engraving (or not). Different years of service at retirement offered different ranges of "parting gifts". Some larger companies had a catalog that retirees could choose from. Choice is made and business orders and pays for the watch to award you.