Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Bernhard J · Nov 6, 2023

I have a soft spot for "unloved" watches. Very "unloved" are womens pocket watches. Today I grabbed this one, my first Patek Philippe, made for Tiffany. Luckily the seller did not elect to have the watch scrapped for the gold, but sold it as is. Matching numbers, perfect enamel dial, diameter 30 mm. For sure a very expensive item, when new.

Canuck · Nov 6, 2023

Bernhard J
I have a soft spot for "unloved" watches. Very "unloved" are womens pocket watches. Today I grabbed this one, my first Patek Philippe, made for Tiffany. Luckily the seller did not elect to have the watch scrapped for the gold, but sold it as is. Matching numbers, perfect enamel dial, diameter 30 mm. For sure a very expensive item, when new.

I find it interesting that the orientation of the movement layout would have made it possible to fit a seconds hand to the watch, at the 6:00 position. Yet there is no seconds hand! The red velvet lined box is not likely original to the watch, unless Tiffany had an agent in Europe. But it suits the watch.

Bernhard J · Nov 6, 2023

Seconds hand was presumably though to be superfluous, because most women are late to dates anyway

.

Seriously, I have observed this in case of English pocket watches of smaller size frequently.

Tiffany items were sold worldwide also back then. I might well be that the German retailer had such boxes with his name made matching various items. So, perhaps the box is original to the watch, at least it fits well. I will try to research the retailer and to find out, whether he was a Tiffany distributor.

P.S.: The adress book of Apolda of 1900 lists "Richard Schiering, Uhrmacher und Graveur, Goldgasse 7", i.e. he was watchmaker and engraver.

Canuck · Nov 6, 2023

Bernhard J
Seconds hand was presumably though to be superfluous, because most women are late to dates anyway

.

Seriously, I have observed this in case of English pocket watches of smaller size frequently.

That may have been the case with European watches, but I get the impression that most U S watchmakers fitted seconds hands. Unless a movement designed for a hunter style case was deployed in an open faced case. Then usually there was no seconds hand.

Bernhard J · Nov 6, 2023

As to my knowledge Patek, V&C and IWC delivered movements with dials, including the Tiffany signatures, to Tiffany. These were then encased in the USA, often by Cresarrow (Henry Blank & Co.). Rather unusual is imo, that the case of this watch is marked "Tiffany", without any "secondary" marks. Can it be that Tiffany made cases themselves?

Canuck · Nov 6, 2023

Bernhard J
As to my knowledge Patek, V&C and IWC delivered movements with dials, including the Tiffany signatures, to Tiffany. These were then encased in the USA, often by Cresarrow (Henry Blank & Co.). Rather unusual is imo, that the case of this watch is marked "Tiffany", without any "secondary" marks. Can it be that Tiffany made cases themselves?

Precious metal trademarking laws in North America are such that a karat gold stamp on a gold (silver, or platinum) item must be accompanied by a trade mark approved by the FTC (U S), and the Dep’t of Corporate and Consumer Affairs in Canada. An item not produced by the person whose trade mark is on the item certainly is not uncommon. The person who owns the trade mark on the item becomes responsible for the quality of the item. Could be Tiffany have bought a case making concern? Or it was perhaps produced by an outside firm. Interesting.

TexOmega · Nov 8, 2023

Still Celebrating wearing this one today!

(Hamilton) Illinois Bunn Special 161A Type III-B(161A plus the "Co."has been eliminated)

Hamilton introduced Elinvar and solid balance after buying Illinois Watch Co. in 1928

Original hands

Movement Finish : 5th Pattern-Interrupted Ray
Introduction at serial # 5481301.....mine is # 5481901

Hamilton introduced the verbiage on the dial in 1930, and in their advertisements stated they could only guaranty "RR spec" accuracy for 48 hrs.

Factory Model #206 Green Gold Filled Case, only made 2 years 1930-32

2191014222_Hamilton_BunnSpecial-FactoryCases-DoNotChange-3-25-2006-1-modified.jpg

3781013122_Hamilton_28_173_181-BunnSpecial-1930Cat..jpg

Canuck · Nov 8, 2023

The movement is marked Springfield. So Hamilton must have continued with the Illinois factory for a time after the take over. What a stunning watch!🥰

TexOmega · Nov 8, 2023

Thank you

I placed it back on @Duracuir1 deerskin lanyard for tomorrow too

Duracuir1 · Nov 8, 2023

TexOmega
Thank you

I placed it back on @Duracuir1 deerskin lanyard for tomorrow too

Looks good! In your photo I thought you were wearing spats!

In your above post with all of the great historical photos they mention “green gold filled” among others.

I was not aware of “green GF”.

Does anyone have a specimen?

Canuck · Nov 8, 2023

Duracuir1
Looks good! In your photo I thought you were wearing spats!

In your above post with all of the great historical photos they mention “green gold filled” among others.

I was not aware of “green GF”.

Does anyone have a specimen?

I understand that a bit of silver is added to the precious metal content of gold alloy to give the resulting colour, a tinge that is called “green gold”. I have included a picture of an Elgin hunter cased watch that shows four colours. Yellow, rose, white, and green gold. The 3 represents the green gold.

TexOmega · Nov 8, 2023

I think you'll find it to be a bit more subtle than the above picture from looking at my WM's examples in hand. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish white from green unless held side-by-side.

No spats in my house just spiffy-keen Made in USA New Balance👍

Duracuir1 · Nov 8, 2023

TexOmega
I think you'll find it to be a bit more subtle than the above picture from looking at my WM's examples in hand. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish white from green unless held side-by-side.

No spats in my house just spiffy-keen Made in USA New Balance👍

And the nicest selection of cowboy boots and vinyl records!

TexOmega · Nov 8, 2023

Thanks, time, effort and passion like all things in life.

I hear there's some really crazy people that enjoy working with leather.......time, effort, passion and skill, a must for all endevor's.

ghce · Nov 8, 2023

Duracuir1
Looks good! In your photo I thought you were wearing spats!

In your above post with all of the great historical photos they mention “green gold filled” among others.

I was not aware of “green GF”.

Does anyone have a specimen?

I have a couple of wrist watches that I am certain are " Green Gold" when viewed in my watch box amongst yellow, rose and pink gold it's quite distinctively different as being painfully light coloured yellow gold.
When seen the word " green " pop magically into your head even though the more you analyse what you are seeing you can only logically see light yellow gold. It mind f#£&'s me every time I look at it.

Canuck · Nov 8, 2023

Referring to the picture of the four colour gold watch I posted (above), there is no mistaking green gold for yellow gold, in my view.

ghce · Nov 8, 2023

Canuck
Referring to the picture of the four colour gold watch I posted (above), there is no mistaking green gold for yellow gold, in my view.

Spot on !

TexOmega · Nov 8, 2023

To clarify, my post, as stated, was comparing white to green gold not green gold to yellow.

Alpha · Nov 10, 2023

Still only 2 🙁

TexOmega · Nov 10, 2023

And a mighty handsome pair!