Manufacturer: American Waltham Watch Co. of Waltham, Massachusetts.
Movement: The movement is stamped "15 Jewels" and "SWISS MADE". The "SWISS MADE" stamp, while the movement is from an American company, likely indicates that a Swiss-made part, like a balance or hairspring, was used in the movement. This was not uncommon for watch manufacturers at the time. The movement has an intricate damascening or engine-turned pattern on the plates, a decorative technique to show quality.
Dial: The face of the watch has a white enamel dial with black Roman numerals and a sub-seconds dial at the 6 o'clock position. This is a classic and elegant design for pocket watches of the period.
Case: The case is a "rolled gold" open-face case. The inscription inside the back cover is a key detail: "ENGLISH MAKE THIS CASE WARRANTED TO WEAR 10 YEARS". Rolled gold, also known as gold-filled, is a process where a layer of gold is mechanically bonded to a base metal. This was a less expensive alternative to solid gold cases, and the "warranted to wear" inscription was a common assurance of its durability. The "English Make" and "10 Years" warranty further confirm the case's origin and construction.
Serial Number: The number stamped on the case is "68736". It's important to note that the case serial number is different from the movement serial number, which is what is used to date the watch. To get the exact date, you would need to look up the serial number stamped on the watch's movement.
American Waltham Watch Company:The American Waltham Watch Company was a pioneer in American industrial production. Founded in 1850, it was one of the first companies to successfully mass-produce pocket watch movements with interchangeable parts. This innovation revolutionized the watchmaking industry, which was previously dominated by a European system of hand-crafting individual watches. Waltham watches were renowned for their quality and accuracy.
Dating the Watch:While the case warranty suggests a date of manufacture, the true age of a Waltham watch is determined by the serial number on the movement itself. The year 1902 is a very plausible date for a watch of this style. At the turn of the 20th century, Waltham was at the height of its production, creating millions of movements in various grades and sizes.
The "15 Jewels" Movement:A 15-jewel movement was considered a good quality watch. Jewels in a watch are not for decoration, but rather a practical component. They are small synthetic rubies or sapphires used as bearings for the moving parts of the watch. Using jewels reduces friction and wear, increasing the accuracy and longevity of the watch. A 15-jewel movement was a significant step up from lower-jewel count watches and was known to be a robust and reliable timepiece.
"Rolled Gold" and "Warranted" Cases:The use of a rolled gold case with a warranty was a popular practice. These cases were manufactured separately by different companies and then fitted with a Waltham movement. The "10-year" warranty was a guarantee of the thickness and durability of the gold layer against normal wear and tear.
Waltham watches are highly collectible, but their value can vary greatly. Factors that influence value include:
Condition: The overall condition of the movement, dial, and case. A watch in good working order with a pristine dial and minimal case wear will be worth more.
Grade and Jewels: Higher-jewel count movements (e.g., 21 or 23 jewels, especially those designated "Railroad Grade") are more sought after by collectors. A 15-jewel movement is a solid entry-level collectible.
Rarity: Some models or limited production runs are more valuable.
Case Material: Solid gold cases are much more valuable than gold-filled or rolled gold cases, as their value is tied to the weight of the gold.