Inheritance - pocket watch
Discussion
Hello all
I have been fortunate enough to receive a lovely pocket watch as an inheritance. I know nothing about it hope that you lot might.
I don't expect it to be worth anything at all but think better to insure it if it is.
Here are some photos. It's certainly weighty and runs beautifully and keeps excellent time.
Any ideas???
That's awesome!
Check the silver hallmark for origin and date of the case. At first glance I'd say a key wound English lever pocketwatch from the 1800's probably not worth more than £300 in top condition and less than £100 now.
Still a really cool thing to have though, my hand me downs are nothing like as cool as this.
If the back doesn't open any further, pop open the front bezel you may find that the movement will hinge out and reveal the makers/jewellers name/origin, the type of balance, etc. Most antique watches weren't really branded as we'd understand it today.
Should still be reliable, too. Accuracy of around a min/day maybe? Really nice thing to have!
Check the silver hallmark for origin and date of the case. At first glance I'd say a key wound English lever pocketwatch from the 1800's probably not worth more than £300 in top condition and less than £100 now.
Still a really cool thing to have though, my hand me downs are nothing like as cool as this.
If the back doesn't open any further, pop open the front bezel you may find that the movement will hinge out and reveal the makers/jewellers name/origin, the type of balance, etc. Most antique watches weren't really branded as we'd understand it today.
Should still be reliable, too. Accuracy of around a min/day maybe? Really nice thing to have!
Edited by glazbagun on Tuesday 1st September 13:22
glazbagun said:
That's awesome!
Check the silver hallmark for origin and date of the case. At first glance I'd say a key wound English lever pocketwatch from the 1800's probably not worth more than £300 in top condition and less than £100 now.
Still a really cool thing to have though, my hand me downs are nothing like as cool as this.
If the back doesn't open any further, pop open the front bezel you may find that the movement will hinge out and reveal the makers/jewellers name/origin, the type of balance, etc. Most antique watches weren't really branded as we'd understand it today.
Should still be reliable, too. Accuracy of around a min/day maybe? Really nice thing to have!
Thanks, it's really cool - nice feel to it.Check the silver hallmark for origin and date of the case. At first glance I'd say a key wound English lever pocketwatch from the 1800's probably not worth more than £300 in top condition and less than £100 now.
Still a really cool thing to have though, my hand me downs are nothing like as cool as this.
If the back doesn't open any further, pop open the front bezel you may find that the movement will hinge out and reveal the makers/jewellers name/origin, the type of balance, etc. Most antique watches weren't really branded as we'd understand it today.
Should still be reliable, too. Accuracy of around a min/day maybe? Really nice thing to have!
Edited by glazbagun on Tuesday 1st September 13:22
I can open the back of the case (by pushing the crown ) but I can' topen the front or pop the movement out.
Any ideas??
I can't quite tell from the photo's, but it looks like the front bezel has a hinge and a lip. If you can get your thumbnail under the lip you can pop open the front, this may also require pressing the button quite far or it may be a snap on bezel.
The movement is likely to be attached by a (quite delicate) hinge and thus can be lifted forward, exposing the movement. Otherwise you might need a caseknife to pop open the bezel.
There may be an additional dust cover sitting on the movement held in place by a blued sliding spring, but they don't all have them.
The movement is likely to be attached by a (quite delicate) hinge and thus can be lifted forward, exposing the movement. Otherwise you might need a caseknife to pop open the bezel.
There may be an additional dust cover sitting on the movement held in place by a blued sliding spring, but they don't all have them.
Edited by glazbagun on Tuesday 1st September 16:16
I'd say it's a Waltham from the USA. I have one almost exactly the same but gold plated, presented to my grandfather for service in the mines of Auckland Park Colliery in 1925.
Not much monetary value but a lovely thing. The cover should hinge in the same place as the back to reveal a gorgeous engraved movement
Not much monetary value but a lovely thing. The cover should hinge in the same place as the back to reveal a gorgeous engraved movement
Edited by TwilightJohnny on Tuesday 1st September 21:31
Glazbagum is probably about right on value, and on identification. case is London hallmarked and looks from the photo to be 1869 "O" date letter but the photo isn't quite clear enough to be sure. Date letter list is available here http://www.silvercollection.it/englishsilverhallma... for you to check.
The movement will be a key wind and set fusee (wind by the square in the back, set using the key on the square at the centre of the hands)and almost certainly English lever escapement at that age.
As Glazbagum suggested, the front will open using a thumbnail (or possibly carefully with a blunt knife if it hasn't been opened for a long time) against the raised part on the edge between 1 & 2 o'clock. It hinges at the same side as the back does.
Once the front's open, look at the edge of the dial at 6 o'clock and you'll see a small piece of metal, usually with a grooved edge. Press that gently towards the centre of the watch using your thumbnail and the movement will hinge outwards. It'll probably have a cover fitted, held by a kind of C shaped spring which is held by two screws or rivets fitted in slots.
The spring has a "sharp" and "blunt" end and can be slid carefully towards it's "blunt" end by a mm or two in order to release the cover. If you do this BE CAREFUL because the balance will be exposed once the cover's off and is easily damaged!
Nice, good quality, piece and it'd be interesting to see how much effort was put into finishing and / or decorating the movement!
The movement will be a key wind and set fusee (wind by the square in the back, set using the key on the square at the centre of the hands)and almost certainly English lever escapement at that age.
As Glazbagum suggested, the front will open using a thumbnail (or possibly carefully with a blunt knife if it hasn't been opened for a long time) against the raised part on the edge between 1 & 2 o'clock. It hinges at the same side as the back does.
Once the front's open, look at the edge of the dial at 6 o'clock and you'll see a small piece of metal, usually with a grooved edge. Press that gently towards the centre of the watch using your thumbnail and the movement will hinge outwards. It'll probably have a cover fitted, held by a kind of C shaped spring which is held by two screws or rivets fitted in slots.
The spring has a "sharp" and "blunt" end and can be slid carefully towards it's "blunt" end by a mm or two in order to release the cover. If you do this BE CAREFUL because the balance will be exposed once the cover's off and is easily damaged!
Nice, good quality, piece and it'd be interesting to see how much effort was put into finishing and / or decorating the movement!
looks a bit like mine originally made in croydon.
watch
case back open
case front open
small switch to press with your nail, don't need a knife, if it has this do NOT try and force the movement out, use this switch and it will simple hinge out unless said hinge is buggered.
shiny internals that hinge out.
watch
case back open
case front open
small switch to press with your nail, don't need a knife, if it has this do NOT try and force the movement out, use this switch and it will simple hinge out unless said hinge is buggered.
shiny internals that hinge out.
Du1point8 said:
looks a bit like mine originally made in croydon.
watch
case back open
case front open
small switch to press with your nail, don't need a knife, if it has this do NOT try and force the movement out, use this switch and it will simple hinge out unless said hinge is buggered.
shiny internals that hinge out.
Brilliant thanks chap.watch
case back open
case front open
small switch to press with your nail, don't need a knife, if it has this do NOT try and force the movement out, use this switch and it will simple hinge out unless said hinge is buggered.
shiny internals that hinge out.
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