Waltham?

[Mattt]

I was given my late grandfathers watch as part of a birthday present a while back, but never really found out much about it.

It has 'Waltham' on the dial and appears to be made of gold. It has the serial number 1095/17 on the back, but that is it.

Anyone got any suggestions? Ill try and get a picture.

[CivPilot]

Well the orginal Waltham watch was American and mechanical. So if it's one of those in might be worth finding a vintage watch seller and getting it properly valued. If it is battery (which I very much doubt from your description) then it isn't a real Waltham, but rather a watch made by someone else using the Waltham name. The only "Official" Waltham watch is now made in Switzerland by Waltham International Sa. This company was set up in 1954 as a subsidiary of the main factory and are still going today.

Waltham watch co. America went out of business in 1957 so if it is one of the original American factory peices then it might have a financial value attached, but they did produce and estimate 40million peices in their 100year operating history. If your not brave enough youself (or don't have the right tool) I would suggest going to a friendly jeweller (one of the smaller independants) and asking politely if they can remove the back for you and check the numbers. This will at least tie it down to a year.

[anonymous-user]

A waltham chronograph was worn on the moon by Scott in1971 on Apollo something or another, despite Omega's claim that the Speedmaster is the only watch to have done so.

Edited by stovey for pictures

Edited by stovey on Wednesday 16th May 08:29

[CivPilot]

Omega themselves have never claimed that the Speedmaster was the only watch to be worn on the surface of the moon, but they do correctly claim that at the time it was the only "certified" watch issued to the Apollo crews. The Waltham that was worn on the moon was the decision of the astronaut at the time as he smashed the heskalite crytal on his omega after landing and nothing to do with NASA. In fact I beleive that NASA were unaware of the astonauts decision to put on his own Waltham (taken as a back up in his crew bag) until afterwards.

By all accounts the original Waltham watches were pretty well made, considering they were the very first production line watches thats pretty good going.

[anonymous-user]

CivPilot said:

Omega themselves have never claimed that the Speedmaster was the only watch to be worn on the surface of the moon, .

Reed it and weep.

[CivPilot]

stovey said:

CivPilot said:

Omega themselves have never claimed that the Speedmaster was the only watch to be worn on the surface of the moon, .

Reed it and weep.

Ah, but that is the Crystal back version, so kind of a trick image as that was never worn on the moon anyway . Surprised that watch even exists when you consider the litigation situation in the USA, surely someone would have sued Omega for false promotion by now?

I've never seen them claim "only watch worn" before but have seen them (rightly) claim "first watch worn" loads of times.
In fact here is another picture of a crystal back....

Funny, totally different to the one you pictured.
And another of the steel back...

Again, no "only" but clearly "first" and "flight certified".
I have never ever seen the watch back you pictured before and the steel back watches (the actual ones worn on the moon are all as above (unless special edition).

Anyway, back to Waltham, Good watches by all accounts.

Edited by CivPilot on Wednesday 16th May 09:41

[anonymous-user]

There are 4 different display back cases from 1980 to present. The false claim "only watch to be worn on the moon" has been the production model since 2002/03.

[jamieboy]

CivPilot said:

Omega themselves have never claimed that the Speedmaster was the only watch to be worn on the surface of the moon

On their website, this page states:

"the exceptional adventure of space exploration in which the Speedmaster Professional - the only watch worn on the Moon - was greatly involved"

[anonymous-user]

jamieboy said:

CivPilot said:

Omega themselves have never claimed that the Speedmaster was the only watch to be worn on the surface of the moon

On their website, this page states:

"the exceptional adventure of space exploration in which the Speedmaster Professional - the only watch worn on the Moon - was greatly involved"

So that's at least twice then. TBH i've seen the false claim both in adverts and on the casebacks.

[CivPilot]

stovey said:

jamieboy said:

CivPilot said:

Omega themselves have never claimed that the Speedmaster was the only watch to be worn on the surface of the moon

On their website, this page states:

"the exceptional adventure of space exploration in which the Speedmaster Professional - the only watch worn on the Moon - was greatly involved"

So that's at least twice then. TBH i've seen the false claim both in adverts and on the casebacks.

Although even the Omega page isnt correct as it states the name "Neil Armstrong" when talking about the first one on the moon. Well Armstrong left his watch in the LEM (the main clock had failed) and the first worn on the surface was actually on the wrist of Buzz Aldrin

I wasnt aware of the false claims as the display back is not really a proper "moonwatch" in my personal opinion so I dont bother looking when I see one. The steel back is the one worn and thats the one I always look at, and the steel back says "first" not "only".

I happily stand corrected though... naughty Omega!!!!!