Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

TexOmega

I would bet the back screws off but if someone placed into that case at some point, possibly a snap on back because I see no hinge.

SOG53

Ok the Ball 999 opening revealed. It’s a front loader with hinge at 12, with pulling crown. Here’s the insides

Bernhard J

Time for another European watch 😉

You can spend big money on purchasing a genuine Breguet pocket watch. You can save a lot of money by buying Breguet quality at decent prices, that is by buying a watch from one of the contemporary makers, who provided the Breguet workshop with raw or even finished movements. But do not confuse this with the numerous contemporary "Breguet" fakes.

One of these was the workshop of Gedeon Decombaz in Geneve, as evident from records of the Breguet workshop, showing the movements bought from Decombaz. Here is an example of such a "bargain" watch in an 18K case. It is a quarter repeater having a cylinder escapement and sweep seconds (a rare combination). It was made in the 1790s. Note the delicate hands!

It needed some minor repairs, here a few impressions from doing that.

Fixing this was somewhat "tricky", the shaft diameter below 1 mm and comprising a square portion.

Duracuir1

Untouched since I created this display about 2 years ago. I (and the curious cat) took it out just for the heck of it.

I had it running for nearly an hour a couple years ago. Today I simply moved the hands with a key. As the hands moved, the watch ticked.

Big hunk of silver, and the chain is Sterling.

Back on the wall where it belongs.

The two bottom « windows » in my display are photographs of the movement and of the paper watchmaker insert found inside the outer case.

Canuck

I don’t recall one of these Ball grade 999 E (Hamilton 950 E) ever having appeared in this thread before. This watch isn’t mine. I have it on loan from a friend, to show it to a CPR employee who says he wants a railroad watch. We’ll see!

A bit of a Hamilton history lesson:

• Late in the 19th century, Hamilton began producing 16 size watch movements for railroad use.
• In about 1909, Hamilton introduced the grade 950. Bi-metallic balance wheel and steel hairspring.
• In about 1912, Hamilton introduced the grade 992, also with bi-metallic balance wheel and steel hairspring.

Electric urban and inter-urban trains were introduced circa 1898. Most of the American watch companies came to realize that they would have to introduce anti-magnetic watches for train crews.

• In 1930 or 1931, Hamilton introduced the grade 992 E (for Elinvar) which replaced the grade 992. Mono-metallic, non-ferrous Elinvar balance wheel and Elinvar hairspring. It was now anti-magnetic.
• In 1937, Hamilton introduced the improved 950 E which also had a mono-metallic Elinvar balance wheel and Elinvar hairspring. The 950 E was now anti-magnetic.
• Circa 1941, Hamilton improved the 992 E by introducing the totally new design, the grade 992B, and also they re-designed the grade 950E, and called the new model, the 950 B.

The dial is typical Ball Watch Co., and the movement is marked 999 B, but it is basically a 950 E. I don’t see many 950 E Hamiltons, and I have never seen one by the Ball Watch Co., so it is very rare. Rare also as it is in a white gold filled case.

If you are able to discern the black arrow at 4:00 on the movement picture, it points to the pallet cock which has the name ELINVAR engraved on the pallet cock.

A grade 950 and 950 B shown here.

Waltesefalcon

This past week I wore this little art deco Elgin Grade 495 from 1933. I usually don't wear many 10s watches, so I was evaluating whether or not it was going to stay in my collection or if I was going to move it along to a new custodian. After five days of riding in my vest pocket, it charmed me and while it is going back into the box now I will be wearing it more frequently.