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Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

DaveK
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Does this look right to you all? I’m interested in it from a local auction. It’s listed as running, which makes sense since the movement looks good. It’s the case that’s confusing me. It is a hinged case (hinge at 6:00), but the outer caseback has an off-centre “badge” where someone would choose to pay extra for their initials to be engraved. Why would this “badge” be off centre? Due to its odd angle, it wouldn’t really fit on any position on the case. Something goofy going on?

serial 1139769, dating it to 1926. The pocket watch database lists it as 5 adjustments, but I’ve found articles online noting that it should be 8 as noted on the movement. I believe it would also be RR grade, even though the database says no - unless it’s pendant set, in which case probably not RR grade in 1926

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Alpha
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noelekal noelekal
The mystery watch is kind of cool.

Alpha, I'll take your same ol' ... same ol' every time!

I find myself wishing to peek at that advertisement display next to your pocket watches.

I'll take a shot of them soon 👍
 
Alpha
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Ok not even close to a pocket but I can still admire it 😀

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Canuck
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8 adjustments = 5 to position, heat, cold, and isochronism. The “badge” for an initial is called a cartouche. This one is an open cartouche, meaning no engraving. As to the odd position? Artistic license, I guess.

As to the not railroad grade? The watch company South Bend was bought by Studebaker, hence the difference between the marking on the movement, and the marking on the dial. At one point in the evolution of railroad watch standards, it became essential that the name on the dial be the name of the actual maker of the movement. That would be my guess.
 
DaveK
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Canuck Canuck
8 adjustments = 5 to position, heat, cold, and isochronism. The “badge” for an initial is called a cartouche. This one is an open cartouche, meaning no engraving. As to the odd position? Artistic license, I guess.

As to the not railroad grade? The watch company South Bend was bought by Studebaker, hence the difference between the marking on the movement, and the marking on the dial. At one point in the evolution of railroad watch standards, it became essential that the name on the dial be the name of the actual maker of the movement. That would be my guess.

Thank you @Canuck
 
CBM1590
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Howdy, my pocket watch expert friends! Anyone have any insight on the following watch that I am interested in? Says it is from the 40’s and appears to be small. Might be Japanese/Seikosha, but the movement is stamped “Swiss”. The current owner did pick this watch up from Japan. I can’t find anything of use in my search. It is currently sitting below $20, including shipping, and it goes off later today. I may pick it up unless you all tell me otherwise. Thanks!
Edited:
 
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Canuck
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I’m going to guess that the movement is a Cortebert calibre. Somewhere near the rim of the balance wheel, and beneath it, there may be a maker’s trade mark and calibre stamped into the pillar plate.
 
CBM1590
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Canuck Canuck
I’m going to guess that the movement is a Cortebert calibre. Somewhere near the rim of the balance wheel, and beneath it, there may be a maker’s trade mark and calibre stamped into the pillar plate.
Cortebert was a fairly respected movement, correct?
 
CBM1590
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Ive found only one more. It was identical to this watch. Very small…43mm. Was on a Japanese auction site. Military perhaps?
 
TexOmega
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CBM1590 CBM1590
Ive found only one more. It was identical to this watch. Very small…43mm. Was on a Japanese auction site. Military perhaps?


nope
 
Waltesefalcon
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CBM1590 CBM1590
Cortebert was a fairly respected movement, correct?
They are solid, but nothing to write home about. Molnija copied them for decades.
 
Fallout Boy
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Dear specialists, can anyone please tell me an av. value of this grana?
Probably al mil number (D.H. ?) was engraved on the back. The movement looks like a good quality...
merci!

grana 1.jpg grana 2.jpg grana 3.jpg
 
Waltesefalcon
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It is a pretty good watch, Grana would go on to change its name to Certina. The KF262 movement was used in the watches Grana sold to both the British and German militaries during WWII, so there is a decent chance yours may be military. Can you take clear photos of the markings?
 
Fallout Boy
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merci, but watch is not in my hands.....
grana 6.jpg



probably NO engravings...

any idea of value?
 
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