Community Stories

Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Bernhard J
Posts
627
Likes
2,095
Canuck Canuck
Collectable watches today are either too expensive to buy

I respectfully disagree. Collectable watches in gold cases nowadays often are obtainable for scrap value (including premium!). For example, I got this one in auction for the scrap value in 2023, i.e. the consignor made a really bad business, considering that he/she received about 30-40% less than I paid to the auction house. Today the scrap value is about 400€ higher than what I had paid in 2023.

Known maker (Vaucher Freres, ca. 1830), 14K case (original, nicely decorated, very good condition, cuvette also in 14K), perfect dial and hands (both original), jewelled (!) duplex escapement, compensation balance, well running, nothing to fix (except perhaps hairspring length, see regulator position). I would say definitely "collectable" and clearly nothing for scrapping.

Vaucher_Frères 1830.jpg 12.jpg L1040095.JPG L1040097.JPG
Edited:
 
Canuck
Posts
15,239
Likes
44,756
You missed my point! I quote myself. “Collectible watches today” might better have been said “modern watches today” are either too expensive to buy……….! Antique and vintage watches on the other hand, periodically can be had reasonably.
 
Bernhard J
Posts
627
Likes
2,095
OK, I fully agree with that! One pays $$$$$$$$$ just for the brand and only $ for the product quality.
 
Alpha
Posts
17,419
Likes
164,518
Ingersoll Triumph today 👍

IMG_3339.jpeg
 
TexOmega
Posts
8,355
Likes
59,778
Canuck Canuck
Did you hear about the lady tattooist who had designs on every man in town?


There once was a lady tattooist from Nantucket............
 
Canuck
Posts
15,239
Likes
44,756
I just finished watching a video on the CPKC railroad steam locomotive 2816 which is on its way from Calgary to Mexico City, and I was overwhelmed by the urge to wear a third watch today, aside from my Speedmaster and my Rolex Oyster Date-Just. I went to the vault, and this one winked at me. It is a Keystone Howard series XI (eleven), 16-size, 21-jewel, lever set model on one of my @DaveK mystery braid lanyards. Heaven knows why a railroader would have the back of his watch to engraved so ornately, so the first owner may not have been a railroader. I rescued this one from an unholy fate when the elderly son of the original owner was downsizing, and didn’t want the watch to fall into the hands of his scofflaw grandson! I made him an offer, and the watch became mine. I really like the dial on the Howard series 11s.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/e.-howard-watch-co.-keystone/1262112

IMG_2433.jpeg IMG_2432.jpeg IMG_2430.jpeg
Edited:
 
Alpha
Posts
17,419
Likes
164,518
Just the usual culprits hanging around today 😀

IMG_3433.jpeg
 
noelekal
Posts
6,498
Likes
50,197
You're known by the company you keep Alpha.

And, if that is undeniably true then we're all in trouble here!
 
Canuck
Posts
15,239
Likes
44,756
I’ve long had a soft spot for Canadian private label pocket watches. A list.

- Porte & Markle (jewellers), Winnipeg, Man., 16-size Electa (Gallet).
- Blacks (jewellers), Calgary. Swiss made Cortebert model, used as a service loaner to railroaders
- A. Logan (jewellers), Greenwood, B. C., 16-size Brandt grade CCR.
- G. M. Rioch (jewellers), Kenora, Ont., Hamilton 18-size grade 940.
- G. W. Beall (jewellers), Lindsay, Ont., Waltham 1883 model, marked Canadian Railway Time Service.
- Jos. Pequegnat (jewellers), Guelph, Ont., Waltham 18-size, 1883.
- D. R. Dingwall (rr watch inspector/jeweller), Winnipeg, Man., Hamilton 18-size grade 944.
- C. P. R. (Dial marked Waltham), Waltham, 18-size, 1883 model, movement has CPR logo.
- CRTS (movement marked Canadian Railway Time Service), Waltham, 18-size, 1892 model.

Six are American made, 3 Swiss, (the Cortebert, the Electa, and the Brandt). Six of the 9 watches were railroad standard models. Canadian railroads were largely served by U S A made watches, but Brandt (Omega), Longines, and Zenith railroad standard watches were accepted as well. Later, in the era of the wrist watch, Accutron, Universal Geneva, and Cyma railroad grade watches were accepted. I feel that a few private label watches add a distinctive flavour to a collection.
 
ghce
Posts
4,509
Likes
45,205
Bought at auction tonight, in working order.
Seller pics

Should be Hamilton 4992B inside

2121971426.jpg 2121971554.jpg 2121971391.jpg
Edited:
 
Canuck
Posts
15,239
Likes
44,756
These came in base metal and sterling silver cases! What are the chances………..!
 
ghce
Posts
4,509
Likes
45,205
Canuck Canuck
These came in base metal and sterling silver cases! What are the chances………..!

I am guessing base metal at this stage as some of the sellers pics are less flattering than these 3 I posted and I am hoping that the poor condition of the dial is hopefully just the glass. These 3 photos were the best focussed, unfortunately they showed no internal shots.
My fingers are crossed for otherwise but the price I paid was very cheap compared to what I see on ebay by a factor of 5 to 10 and I know of several military and PW collectors locally that must have been asleep when the auction came due, only one other serious foreign bidder who I am sure is kicking himself for his timidity.
 
Waltesefalcon
Posts
3,797
Likes
10,380
ghce ghce
I am guessing base metal at this stage as some of the sellers pics are less flattering than these 3 I posted and I am hoping that the poor condition of the dial is hopefully just the glass. These 3 photos were the best focussed, unfortunately they showed no internal shots.
My fingers are crossed for otherwise but the price I paid was very cheap compared to what I see on ebay by a factor of 5 to 10 and I know of several military and PW collectors locally that must have been asleep when the auction came due, only one other serious foreign bidder who I am sure is kicking himself for his timidity.
Going off the second photo, I would guess base metal as well. I think I can see some wear near the middle which is inconsistent with silver, but I suppose it could be weird tarnishing, or lighting.
 
noelekal
Posts
6,498
Likes
50,197
ghce; your incoming Hamilton gives us something to anticipate.
 
ghce
Posts
4,509
Likes
45,205
Well it arrived and in perfect working order, thankfully the dial discoloration is mostly down to an acrylic lens which has significantly yellowed, made a lot better by a quick metal polish, I don't know how far the discoloration extends into the lens and if acrylics were standard on military issue watches due to there superior impact resistance.
Case seems in great condition, the bow is still very tight.
The whole PW has quite a hefty to it more so than other standard cases 16's PW.

I had worried that I would be in some way disappointed with the watch due to condition or faults but now that I have it I can see I got an exceptional bargain paying far far less than it's true value........ SCORE!

Anyway straight to the money shots.

IMG_20240606_103708.jpg IMG_20240606_100443.jpg IMG_20240606_100005.jpg IMG_20240606_095940.jpg IMG_20240606_100106.jpg IMG_20240606_100551.jpg IMG_20240606_101041.jpg IMG_20240606_100503.jpg IMG_20240606_100611.jpg IMG_20240606_102834.jpg
Edited:
 
noelekal
Posts
6,498
Likes
50,197
Ooooo...

You did get a real deal!

Pleased for you.
 
Canuck
Posts
15,239
Likes
44,756
Check the discoloration on the hubs of the hands. Rust? The badly yellowed plastic crystal should be discarded immediately. As they yellow, they off-gas, and the emissions are corrosive! The dial definitely looks better when the bezel & crystal are removed.
 
CBM1590
Posts
1,053
Likes
4,264
Doing a little research on this one from 1905. 2000 in the production run. Dial looks good and I like the artistry on the inside. Thoughts on this one?

ANTIQUE HAMILTON RAILROAD GRADE 940 MODEL 1 POCKET WATCH 21J GOLD FILLED CASE
 
IMG_1155.jpeg IMG_1153.jpeg IMG_1156.jpeg IMG_1154.jpeg
1397 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...