Anyone know anything about antique watches?
Discussion
My partner inherited this watch from an aunt a couple of years ago and it's been stuck in a drawer ever since. There's no identification on the movement but the 9k gold case has a makers mark RJP that apparently dates it to around 1879/1885. Can it really be 140 years old? It's an interesting little thing and amazingly it still works and keeps accurate time.
140 years ago watches were not worn on the wrist.
If the hallmark were correct, then this would most likely be a ladies pocket watch that was converted to a gents wristwatch by soldering on the gold wire lugs. This was common in the early C20th.
However, I see no evidence of a conversion, so I'm not convinced of your reading of the hallmark.
May I suggest that you join WUS and start a topic in the vintage section. The pocket watch guru's there will tell you who made the movement and when.
You'll need better pictures of the movement, especially any markings or numbers. Please also post good pictures of the hallmarks.
https://forums.watchuseek.com/f11/
What I can tell you is that this is a pin set keyless ladies pocket watch movment. Pin set watches were first patented in 1845 so it is no older than that. It's a mid quality one, reasonably high jewel count, no marking to say it was adjusted.
If you hadn't told us about the hallmark, I'd have guessed that it hailed from the 1910s and was originally produced as a wristwatch. That's a bit late for a pin set and a bit early for a ladies pocket watch to be sold as a gents wristwatch. Just a guess, for definitive answers, try the forum above.
If the hallmark were correct, then this would most likely be a ladies pocket watch that was converted to a gents wristwatch by soldering on the gold wire lugs. This was common in the early C20th.
However, I see no evidence of a conversion, so I'm not convinced of your reading of the hallmark.
May I suggest that you join WUS and start a topic in the vintage section. The pocket watch guru's there will tell you who made the movement and when.
You'll need better pictures of the movement, especially any markings or numbers. Please also post good pictures of the hallmarks.
https://forums.watchuseek.com/f11/
What I can tell you is that this is a pin set keyless ladies pocket watch movment. Pin set watches were first patented in 1845 so it is no older than that. It's a mid quality one, reasonably high jewel count, no marking to say it was adjusted.
If you hadn't told us about the hallmark, I'd have guessed that it hailed from the 1910s and was originally produced as a wristwatch. That's a bit late for a pin set and a bit early for a ladies pocket watch to be sold as a gents wristwatch. Just a guess, for definitive answers, try the forum above.
mikeveal said:
140 years ago watches were not worn on the wrist.
If the hallmark were correct, then this would most likely be a ladies pocket watch that was converted to a gents wristwatch by soldering on the gold wire lugs. This was common in the early C20th.
However, I see no evidence of a conversion, so I'm not convinced of your reading of the hallmark.
May I suggest that you join WUS and start a topic in the vintage section. The pocket watch guru's there will tell you who made the movement and when.
You'll need better pictures of the movement, especially any markings or numbers. Please also post good pictures of the hallmarks.
https://forums.watchuseek.com/f11/
What I can tell you is that this is a pin set keyless ladies pocket watch movment. Pin set watches were first patented in 1845 so it is no older than that. It's a mid quality one, reasonably high jewel count, no marking to say it was adjusted.
If you hadn't told us about the hallmark, I'd have guessed that it hailed from the 1910s and was originally produced as a wristwatch. That's a bit late for a pin set and a bit early for a ladies pocket watch to be sold as a gents wristwatch. Just a guess, for definitive answers, try the forum above.
Thanks for the reply. I briefly did some research and suspected it was a little too early. The info I found on the mark is for a Robert John Pike and appears to match that particular date range but I'm likely mistaken. If the hallmark were correct, then this would most likely be a ladies pocket watch that was converted to a gents wristwatch by soldering on the gold wire lugs. This was common in the early C20th.
However, I see no evidence of a conversion, so I'm not convinced of your reading of the hallmark.
May I suggest that you join WUS and start a topic in the vintage section. The pocket watch guru's there will tell you who made the movement and when.
You'll need better pictures of the movement, especially any markings or numbers. Please also post good pictures of the hallmarks.
https://forums.watchuseek.com/f11/
What I can tell you is that this is a pin set keyless ladies pocket watch movment. Pin set watches were first patented in 1845 so it is no older than that. It's a mid quality one, reasonably high jewel count, no marking to say it was adjusted.
If you hadn't told us about the hallmark, I'd have guessed that it hailed from the 1910s and was originally produced as a wristwatch. That's a bit late for a pin set and a bit early for a ladies pocket watch to be sold as a gents wristwatch. Just a guess, for definitive answers, try the forum above.
Your guess on the 1910s also seems correct as the internet throws up images similar to this design from around that time. The pin set type is fairly scarce so I assume that this must be quite an early wristwatch. I'll put it on WUS and see what comes back.
Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff