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Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Bernhard J
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Duracuir1 Duracuir1
@Bernhard J that is a beauty. Is the dial smooth to the touch? Those folds are mesmerizing.

This surface pattern is created by "engine turning". Different patterns are created by election of the appropriate left hand disk
.

The surface is not smooth, you can feel the grooves with a fingernail (but refrain from trying, you will have to remove any nail debris afterwards again). At some juncture in the future I will attempt to clean the dial center, not really easy. And remove corrosion on the regulator and other parts, the regulator will then have to be blued again. For the time being I will leave it as it is.

Cheers, Bernhard
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Canuck
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I ran into an English watch by John Sewill, many decades ago. It had a ruby cylinder. The only one I have ever seen. I have never been a fan of the cylinder escapement, but the watch by Sewill was a sweet runner. I could have owned it. It had a historical connection. The original owner was Maximo Tajes. Dictator of Ecuador circa 1890. Check out the dial. A vanity dial if there ever was one. The case was 18-karat gold. It was likely circa 1880. Sewill produced excellent watches.
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noelekal
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It's always entertaining to read your posts Bernhard!

Thanks for sharing those photos of your newest acquisition.
 
TexOmega
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Hamilton Grade 917 model #1
10s 17j
Circa 1945
14kt Wadsworth case for Hamilton

Pat was lucky to have Jo

Size 16 vs Size 10
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Canuck
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I don’t go out of my way to collect 10 & 12-size watches, but had that one come my way……….? Applied markers on the dial as befits a 14-karat gold case. There’s a kind of poignant quality to the inscription. Probably presented 90 years ago or so, but it looks as though it was hardly used! Didn’t he like it? Didn’t live to enjoy it? How about the heirs that desired to part with it? Their loss is @TexOmega ’s gain. Nice!
 
DaveK
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Canuck Canuck
I don’t go out of my way to collect 10 & 12-size watches, but had that one come my way……….? Applied markers on the dial as befits a 14-karat gold case. There’s a kind of poignant quality to the inscription. Probably presented 90 years ago or so, but it looks as though it was hardly used! Didn’t he like it? Didn’t live to enjoy it? How about the heirs that desired to part with it? Their loss is @TexOmega ’s gain. Nice!

Absolutely, those applied markers are nice
 
Bernhard J
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Canuck Canuck
I ran into an English watch by John Sewill, many decades ago. It had a ruby cylinder.

Hi,
Is there a connection with Joseph Sewill, who was a well known maker of watches and marine chronometers? Here is one by Joseph Sewill.
Best, Bernhard

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Canuck
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The watch I referred to was sold by Sothebys in New York over 35 years ago. The inscription on the dial of the Sewill watch I referred to is marked J Sewill. The movement might have been marked John Sewill. I don’t have a picture of the movement. The one you posted has a dial marked only SEWILL. The movement is marked Joseph Sewill. Sothebys specified the watch was by JOHN Sewill. So I would be guessing that the chronometer was not by the same Sewill. Same family? I’d be guessing.
 
Duracuir1
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Canuck Canuck
The watch I referred to was sold by Sothebys in New York over 35 years ago. The inscription on the dial of the Sewill watch I referred to is marked J Sewill. The movement might have been marked John Sewill. I don’t have a picture of the movement. The one you posted has a dial marked only SEWILL. The movement is marked Joseph Sewill. Sothebys specified the watch was by JOHN Sewill. So I would be guessing that the chronometer was not by the same Sewill. Same family? I’d be guessing.
Sewill never know then?

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Bernhard J
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There was a John Sewill in Liverpool and later in London. He seems to have been one of four sons of Joseph Sewill, who was born in the first decades of the 1800s (dates vary from 1800 to 1813).
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Canuck
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Bernhard J Bernhard J
There was a John Sewill in Liverpool and later in London. He seems to have been one of four sons of Joseph Sewill, who was born around 1800.

@Bernhard J ,

That is very helpful information. The chronometer you showed would appear to have been made by the aforementioned Joseph Sewill as indicated by the engraving on the movement. The J Sewill on the Tajes watch I mentioned, would appear to be a son (possibly John as indicated by Sothebys). It sold at auction (35 years ago) for $850.00 US after having not met its reserve the first time it was offered at auction. It did sell at the reduced price.
 
Bernhard J
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Here is photo of the premises in Liverpool. This image was provided by Allan Purcell, a very knowledgable fellow, if it turns to Liverpool watchmaking (but not only).

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Canuck
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Bernhard J Bernhard J
It is a "simple" English lever, not a chronometer.

@Bernhard J ,

The way you worded your post, I mistakenly assumed the watch you showed was a chronometer. Joseph Sewill did produce marine chronometers. There’s one for sale on eBay at the moment. As to any other Sewill having produced a marine chronometer………?
 
Bernhard J
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I am quite sure that there are no marine chronometers other than with the signature "Joseph Sewill" and "Maker to the Admirality" or "Maker to the Royal Navy". At least I never saw one with a different "Sewill"-signature (but that must not mean anything). Joseph is said to have retired in the 1860s and he died in the late 1890s, a few years after his son John had died. Presumably the signature "Joseph Sewill" was used for some time after Joseph quit working himself.
 
TexOmega
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Pocket to wrist transition
Circa 1910-15

Anybody recognize the movement used by Gallet? Aegler?
Has to be a pw movement with these features:

4 adjustments!

Big, gold screwed down chatons!

17jewels!



Sterling Silver case

“Vintage” strap to original specs by David Boettcher with Sterling buckle 👍
 
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Canuck
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Gallet acquired the Electa Watch Co. circa 1865. I located this image with a Google search. It shares some earmarks with your Gallet watch. Your case is Swiss made, and the .835 stamping in the case back was not a silver standard that was recognized in Switzerland. The Swiss used it only on cases made for the English market. They discontinued using it late in the 19th century, changing to .925 (sterling). That might help date your watch. I have uploaded a picture of an Electa watch movement, and a link to a site that discusses Swiss silver marks.

https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/swisshallmarks.php

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