My username on eBay is enamieldial due to my love for WW1 trench watches. Trench watches combined with my family's collection of heirloom watches has brought me into watches. My goal has been to buy a trench watch with a shrapnel guard for under 200$. I have been on the hunt for over 3 years off and on. So here it is for only 100$ a original Waltham trench watch from 1908. I would like to inquire if anybody else knows more on these watches. Regards- Orion
Great find at the perfect price point Those are always the most pleasing ones. Congrats and wear in good health.
I didn't know they existed. Thanks for posting. Were the shrapnel guards made individually, like trench art, or sold by watch retailers?
http://www.lrfantiquewatches.com/Waltham-Trench-Watch-Book.html That would be a great start. He also has a book on Elgin trench watches
Yes, it is. The early wrist watches used women's pocket watch calibers because of their size. The hubcap brands didn't exist yet, so nobody was making 50 mm monsters. Also, a great many parts are interchangeable, even from brand to brand, so there is a lot of frankening / assembling going on with these pre-1925 watches.
Yeah a Patria is a bit out of my budget! Beautiful watches wear it in good health. May this Waltham will just be the start.
I bid on a “lot” and all I saw of this one was the guard down under 5-10 other middling watches and straps/bracelets. Pleasantly surprised when it came. My only one with a shrapnel guard. Not many were bidding, I think I paid $100 for the lot some 3-4 years ago. So, keep an eye out, these would have filtered to the bottom of many watchmaker’s boxes by now. And thank you for the kind comments.
It has arrived! Stunning dial. Almost no nicks to the glass. This style of trench watch is precisely Interesting how styles change fast forwarding to WW2 No doubts on this purchase!
There is a issue with it outside of getting serviced part of the wire lug is disconnected and did not notice it! Have heard this issue with wire lugs before
