Post by ianmedium on Aug 3, 2014 16:58:21 GMT -6
I mentioned this purchase to Chip in a pm a couple of days ago but today I picked it up!
When I met the seller of the Swatch Black Sheep the other day he had a bunch of watches to show me, all were for sale but one in particular jumped out at me and I could not get it off my mind. An old Waltham wrist watch which I thought was probably late teens or early twenties of the last century. Serviced and working very well and keeping excellent time he wanted $100 for it which I Knew was a reasonable price so I decided to buy it and we agreed to meet today (Sunday).
A couple of days ago I got an email from him and then a phone call. There was a problem with the watch that he had forgotten about (he has hundreds of watches!) The case back is hinged and in the past some heavy handed klutz had broken the hinge whilst opening it and when Martin ( the seller) went to open it to check all was still well he noticed the problem.
Now, this does not bother me that much as the rest of the watch is pretty mint and its more importantly running really well and keeping excellent time (he ran it over 24 hours and its keeping to within 20 seconds a day) so I said no problems I still want it.
He then said he could not sell it to me for the original agreed price and would $50 be OK! I think you can imagine how quickly I said yes!
So I am now the proud owner of a 1910 Waltham wrist watch with a Waltham case which was made by the Empress case company in Canada but importantly it is a Waltham case and thus a Waltham wrist watch, not a pocket watch movement re-cased into a wrist watch case which means this one was from the very early days of Waltham wristwatches as they started making in house wristwatches in 1908.
As you will see the watch is mint. sure a few tiny wear spots in the gold filled case but really, nothing to write home about and you would have to look hard to see them.
The dial and hands though are minty mint mint, just beautiful and the thing that sold me on the watch are the seconds numerals in red around the edge of the dial. It even has the original crown which is in near mint condition as well with no wear through or braising and still crisp.
It winds beautifully and ticks a nice slow beat. I think I really scored with this one and whats better is I have wanted an early American watch for so long!
Here are some quick shots. More will follow!
The case is 33mm across but wears like a 36mm.
When I met the seller of the Swatch Black Sheep the other day he had a bunch of watches to show me, all were for sale but one in particular jumped out at me and I could not get it off my mind. An old Waltham wrist watch which I thought was probably late teens or early twenties of the last century. Serviced and working very well and keeping excellent time he wanted $100 for it which I Knew was a reasonable price so I decided to buy it and we agreed to meet today (Sunday).
A couple of days ago I got an email from him and then a phone call. There was a problem with the watch that he had forgotten about (he has hundreds of watches!) The case back is hinged and in the past some heavy handed klutz had broken the hinge whilst opening it and when Martin ( the seller) went to open it to check all was still well he noticed the problem.
Now, this does not bother me that much as the rest of the watch is pretty mint and its more importantly running really well and keeping excellent time (he ran it over 24 hours and its keeping to within 20 seconds a day) so I said no problems I still want it.
He then said he could not sell it to me for the original agreed price and would $50 be OK! I think you can imagine how quickly I said yes!
So I am now the proud owner of a 1910 Waltham wrist watch with a Waltham case which was made by the Empress case company in Canada but importantly it is a Waltham case and thus a Waltham wrist watch, not a pocket watch movement re-cased into a wrist watch case which means this one was from the very early days of Waltham wristwatches as they started making in house wristwatches in 1908.
As you will see the watch is mint. sure a few tiny wear spots in the gold filled case but really, nothing to write home about and you would have to look hard to see them.
The dial and hands though are minty mint mint, just beautiful and the thing that sold me on the watch are the seconds numerals in red around the edge of the dial. It even has the original crown which is in near mint condition as well with no wear through or braising and still crisp.
It winds beautifully and ticks a nice slow beat. I think I really scored with this one and whats better is I have wanted an early American watch for so long!
Here are some quick shots. More will follow!
The case is 33mm across but wears like a 36mm.