Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

TexOmega · Feb 7, 2026

18s 17j Ball Watch Co. 1904-5

Movement made by Elgin and their Name for it was 333, but their Grade for it was 329 (and 329 was only used for Ball watches).

Truly rare, made in only one block of 200 and via NAWCC back when there were plenty of interaction on their website, it was stated less than 20 are known to exist.

Pocket Watch Database states 6 are confirmed there but anybody can punch in serial numbers whether they have the watch or not.

Canuck · Feb 8, 2026

The challenge continues. The picture shows my Hamilton 992B (left) from circa mid 1950s, and my 105 year old Hamilton 992 (right). I’ve been using the 992B as my bench chronometer for some time now, and using the 992 as a carry watch. I have the 992 operating close to 30 second per week performance, but the 992B soldiers on keeping time to astonishing accuracy. Much better than the 992. I’d really like to have the 992 performing as accurately as the 992B. But perhaps that might be unreasonable to expect this old turkey to be that accurate while used as a carry watch.

Bernhard J · Feb 9, 2026

Hi All,

Just found time to return to this thread once more. From the last Summer until now I was busy with my classic vehicles and now almost done. So, here a perhaps interesting pocket watch with a variant of the so-called Robin escapement (detent lever), but as a later Morton Patent Chronometer. It has a chronometer wheel for providing the impuls to the balance. But no passing spring for releasing the chronometer wheel, but a lever instead, which does nothing else than releasing the chronometer wheel. That is, the lever itself does not provide any impuls to the balance. Here a drawing of this kind of escapement.

And here the "real thing"

I have spent a little bit of time restoring the dial (somewhat more delicate than rebuilding and fitting an engine 😆), it now looks like this.

The 18K case, of course, bearing the same serial number as the movement and the dial.

Cheers, Bernhard

P.S.: And again a lovely watch saved from the scrappers ...😎😇

gilb12 · Feb 9, 2026

Still in love with my 940 😍😍

Screenshot_2026-02-09-14-30-34-723_com.miui.gallery-edit.webp

Screenshot_2026-02-09-14-28-36-186_com.miui.gallery-edit.webp

Duracuir1 · Feb 10, 2026

Canuck · Feb 10, 2026

Bernhard J
Hi All,

Just found time to return to this thread once more. From the last Summer until now I was busy with my classic vehicles and now almost done. U

And here the "real thing"

I have spent a little bit of time restoring the dial (somewhat more delicate than rebuilding and fitting an engine 😆), it now looks like this.

The 18K case, of course, bearing the same serial number as the movement and the dial.

Cheers, Bernhard

P.S.: And again a lovely watch saved from the scrappers ...😎😇

Beautiful! It appears to have a free sprung balance wheel, likely regulated by concentric screws on the balance wheel. Do I detect a flat (non Breguet) hairspring! Fusee?

Lucky14 · Feb 10, 2026

This is my 1953 Hamilton 992B. It was recently serviced by Tim back in December. He replaced the crystal and the aftermarket dial with a NOS Hamilton melamine dial. Runs like a top.

Duracuir1 · Feb 14, 2026

I wore a different jacket yesterday so this did not get its daily wind. Still running and, almost 48 hours later, is on time.

Canuck · Feb 14, 2026

Lucky14
This is my 1953 Hamilton 992B. It was recently serviced by Tim back in December. He replaced the crystal and the aftermarket dial with a NOS Hamilton melamine dial. Runs like a top.

Soon after your 992B was made, Hamilton changed the train wheels on the 992B. The spokes on the train wheels of your watch are “swedged”, or rounded. Later on, to cheapen production, the spokes were no longer swedged. I prefer the train wheel such as in yours.n

Lucky14 · Feb 14, 2026

Canuck
Soon after your 992B was made, Hamilton changed the train wheels on the 992B. The spokes on the train wheels of your watch are “swedged”, or rounded. Later on, to cheapen production, the spokes were no longer swedged. I prefer the train wheel such as in yours.n

Thank you, Canuck. That’s a bit of information I didn’t know. I will take a peak inside with a loupe to get better look at this.

Waltesefalcon · Feb 14, 2026

Finally got myself a Hamilton 952. This one is circa, 1913.

bubba48 · Feb 14, 2026

Canuck · Feb 14, 2026

Waltesefalcon
Finally got myself a Hamilton 952. This one is circa, 1913.

❤️ your Hamilton grade 952! Congratulations! It is a beauty! My 952 sends salutations.

Canuck · Feb 14, 2026

bubba48

A sterling silver case. I think you might call the case design, art deco? Your regulator index is articulated. That is, in two pieces. Regulating the watch can be done by moving either the pointer (gnomon) of the regulator, or the tail of the regulator where the curb pins are. Very nice!

TexOmega · Feb 14, 2026

Hampden grade “William McKinley” circa 1905 about 4 years after his assassination, elevating Teddy Roosevelt to the presidency.

McKinley was an Ohio native and lived in Canton, Ohio where the watch company had manufacturing and they honored him with this grade.

21j RR grade

Bernhard J · Feb 15, 2026

Canuck
Beautiful! It appears to have a free sprung balance wheel, likely regulated by concentric screws on the balance wheel. Do I detect a flat (non Breguet) hairspring! Fusee?

Thanks.

No, not freesprung, see the regulator on the balance cock. And yes, flat hairspring. The English watchmakers rarely used overcoil hairspring, except in very high grade watches. This one is upper middleclass only, not a "real" chonometer, because producable with lesser skill than a detent.

Canuck · Feb 15, 2026

Bernhard J
Thanks.

No, not freesprung, see the regulator on the balance cock. And yes, flat hairspring. The English watchmakers rarely used overcoil hairspring, except in very high grade watches. This one is upper middleclass only, not a "real" chonometer, because producable with lesser skill than a detent.

Looking at your watch again, I see the regulator gnomon and index. How dumb of me! Fusee?

TexOmega · Feb 21, 2026

My favorite 16s movement damaskeening by Hamilton. Labor intensive and beautiful.
Grade 990

Canuck · Feb 21, 2026

TexOmega
My favorite 16s movement damaskeening by Hamilton. Labor intensive and beautiful.
Grade 990

View attachment 3326923

I just rifled through my photo files to see if I could find a watch that might rival the beauty of @TexOmega ‘s Hamilton 990. Many come close, but close is the best I could do. One would have to marvel at the skill of the workmen and women who could pattern a rose engine to accomplish such a result.

Waltesefalcon · Feb 21, 2026

My person favorite damaskeen pattern from Hamilton is on the old 946.

Edit: I just saw that tex said the 990 was his favorite 16s pattern. I can't really argue with him there, it is a mighty fine looking 16s, I also like the early 992 pattern, but don't own one to show off.