Offered here is a Waltham Crescent St. 16-size pocket watch, featuring a 21-jewel, railroad-grade movement adjusted to 6 positions. The movement serial number is 26846995, with an estimated production year of 1928.
This is a particularly attractive example due to its highly decorated case, classic Waltham dial, and beautifully finished Crescent St. movement.
Watch Details:
Dial & Hands
The white Waltham dial has large, highly legible black Arabic numerals, an outer minute track, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock. It is signed “WALTHAM” below the 12. The watch has dark blued-style hands, including an ornate subsidiary seconds hand.
Please examine the photographs carefully for the dial’s condition. There are age-related marks and fine lines visible, and the photos are an important part of the condition description.
Ornately Engraved Case
The case is one of the standout features of this watch. It has extensive decorative engraving that continues around the watch rather than being limited to the back.
The outer perimeter of the front bezel is richly engraved with a repeating floral, scroll and foliate pattern. This ornamentation continues around the circumference and onto the case sides, creating a decorative border that wraps around the watch. The engraving gives the case considerably more visual detail than a plain railroad-style case.
The bow is also decorated, with an engraved geometric/scroll pattern across its upper surface. Even the area surrounding the crown has been incorporated into the decorative treatment.
The back of the case has an especially attractive period design. The primary field consists of numerous fine vertical engraved stripes, arranged in alternating groups across the back. Centered toward the upper portion is an elaborate ornamental cartouche composed of floral, scroll and leaf motifs surrounding a diamond-shaped center panel.
Inside this diamond is an engraved three-letter monogram. The intertwined lettering appears to read “WHT” (monogram) or possibly “WTH,” (straight across initials), depending on how the letters are interpreted.
The combination of the vertical striping, central diamond monogram, floral scrollwork, engraved perimeter, decorated sides and ornamental bow gives the case a very distinctive late-1920s appearance.
Case Markings
The inside of the case back is marked:
STAR W.C.CO
EMPEROR
QUALITY
0489039
The case shows normal age and use, including surface scratches, scuffs and wear visible in the photographs. Please use the detailed photos to judge the overall cosmetic condition.
Movement
The 21-jewel Waltham Crescent St. movement is attractively finished and marked:
21 JEWELS
ADJUSTED
Crescent St.
WALTHAM, MASS.
U.S.A.
6 POSITIONS
26846995
This is a lever-set movement, as expected for this type of railroad-grade Waltham. The movement displays attractive damaskeened finishing across the plates.
Running Condition
The watch is currently running at the time of listing.
However, due to the high volume of watches we process, we do not guarantee timekeeping accuracy.
Please review all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the description and show the actual watch, case, dial, movement, markings, engraving, and overall condition you will receive.
Combined shipping is available with other pocket watches. We currently have both running and non-running pocket watches up for auction, so please check our other listings.