Hopefully this is the right subforum to post this. A while back I inherited this pocket watch along with some other family heirlooms, and am just now getting around to checking it out. A friend suggested I post on here in order to get some more information on what I have. I know a bit about watches, but nothing about pocket watches, or anything this old. It runs and keeps time. I was told the case is made of platinum. I'm not necessarily looking to sell this watch, as it has sentimental value, but I would be curious how much its worth, as well as when it was made and what model it is etc. If anyone knows anything about what I have here it would be greatly appreciated Many thanks in advance!
Not an expert. Wait for someone else to chime in. But this is not a Vacheron & Constantin pocket watch to my eye. The 7 & 5 overlapping the second counter, and the 0 hanging south of the 1 at ten o'clock look sloppy to me.
Photos needed of the inside of the back of the watch, caseback and movement. Then we may be able to give you some info.
Out of all the avenues that one could go through to authenticate such a watch, seems your looking for a one eyed blind fish to nibble.If it was real, it's the sloppiest I have ever seen any where.
I will have it opened and take photos to see what else can be ascertained...I did not consider the possibility of it being fake, it seems like an odd sort of thing to bother making a fake of...but then again, i don't know much about these things. EDIT: Im googling other V&C pocket watches and it seems like the overlapping numbers arent uncommon Idk https://jewelry.ha.com/itm/timepiec...atinum-pocket-watch-circa-1928/a/5028-61218.s http://vintageoldpocketwatches.com/...stantin_platinum_pocket_watch_circa_1918.html https://www.rubylane.com/item/669694-1255/Spectacular-18K-Gold-Vacheron-Constantin-Pocket
Extremely valuable rare watches are just the thing that get faked. Any vintage can show charchteristics that can perhaps make one question if it's real or not. I am only saying from the images posted and a gut feel that I tend to rely on (for me) it is way off. If it is real, than it is a very valuable item. Even more so as the watch maker may have been sleep walking at the time he made it. I looked at your links, at the gold and platinum pieces. Can you find one with a silver case with tarnished gold numerals. Again, it is only the fact that it was a 1st time post with 2 images that first causes me to drop a flag on it. Keep it safe and I do hope it is real so you can have one amazing Christmas.
Don't be so quick to dismiss this. The dial is a bit dodgy but who knows what the history is? We need some pics of movement and the hallmarks on the inside of the case. Many vintage dials have tarnished numerals, it happens.
probably 1930s artdeco based on hands and markers, solid silver case. subject to view of the inside caseback and caliber.
It could be legit, basing it only on the first link you provided (and assuming the one in that link is real). The indices are quite similar. However, I would be almost certain that its be redialed. Look at the font consistency between the one you linked and your photo. The ones you have are quite irregular and misshapen from one to another. Also, as Dedalus mentioned, the 0 hanging lower at the 10 o'clock looks like it was reapplied incorrectly at some point.
Looks pretty good/ not a redial imo. Subdials look good. Fonts for these pocket watches have typically been varied.
Definitely V&C genes in that movement. Although the wheels don't have the wolf's teeth profile . Possibly a 17''' caliber. V&C made many movements like this around the turn of the 20th century. Many were exported to the USA and cased locally for railroad use. I can't make out the "hallmarks" (as there are no Swiss/English/French etc markings), but they appear to be consistent with a case made in the USA. The dial has been redone at some stage, this wasn't unusual and was sometimes done when a watch was serviced if the dial had been damaged.
It looks a little like platinum was written in a shaky hand though. Wouldn't a platinum case have a bit more flair?
Here is a Vacheron & Constantin serial number list: http://watchesnsuch.net/Vacheron Constantin Watch Company - Serial Numbers and Production Dates.pdf The movement looks to be from around 1925, which is consistent with the general style of the watch. Very nice piece. gatorcpa