Produced between 1861 and 1871, the E. Howard series III is a very historical key-wind, key-set pocket watch. The total production was only 24,500. How many survive today is anybody's guess! Certainly there are not many left. On December 11, 1858, the Howard Watch Company was conceived for the manufacture of high grade watches. This particular watch is housed in an 4 ounce "coin silver" case and is running wonderfully. The "N" size watch is slightly larger than an American 18 size. The case measures 59 mm in diameter, by 86 mm form the case bottom to the top of the bow, by 16 mm thick (with the case closed). This 11 jewel beauty has a "Reeds Patented Barrel". On Feb. 4, 1868, Howard patented a new motor barrel that superseded the Reeds. The presence of the Reeds barrel places its manufacture between 1861 and 1868. The timing pattern on this piece reflects the precision one would expect from a Howard watch. The case shows signs of loving wear on the high points, giving it a mellow appearance. The central cartouche, on the front lid, is un-engraved and the back lid is plain polish. The porcelain dial is original to the piece and has a subtle repair just above the seconds bit. The original hands are blued steel and are quite elegant. The Roman numerals and the "E. Howard & Co. Boston" are elegantly hand-scripted just below the twelve in a small script. This is truly a definitive example of the watchmaking art form in America at that time. Here is an heirloom that your family can cherish for decades to come. Remember all of our watches come with our one-year warranty.
The Illinois Watch Company had its beginnings in several other incarnations, starting in December of 1870, in Springfield, Illinois. The two founders were John Whitfield Bunn and John C. Adams. They started the Springfield Watch Company by attracting several other investors, until they had amassed the princely sum of $100,000.00, which in those days was no small task. William B. Miller was to be their first secretary as they started production and a journey over what was to be a bumpy financial road. By 1877, after some difficulty, the company was reorganized and renamed the Illinois Springfield Watch Company and Erastus Newton Bates was chosen to lead them out of the financial difficulties they had encountered but, by July of 1878 they were once again faced with a re-organization and the name changed once again, to the Illinois Watch Company, the final iteration that we know today. The chief executive was Jacob Bunn Sr. (1814-1897) and he was an all-round entrepreneur with his fingers in finance, newspapers, land development, coal, banking, railroads, wholesale groceries, politics and even the manufacture of rope. The Bunn brothers, John & Jacob, were close friends with Abraham Lincoln, whose political career was financed and managed by them. The growth of the enterprise grew steadily from this point on under the management of the Bunn brothers. The fortunes of the company were starting to rise and by 1880, they had over 400 employees, up from 260 in 1879, and ultimately 1200 at their apex. Production was up as well from 33,285 in 1879 to 47,065 by 1880. Just ten years later, they could boast offices in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago.
With the advent of the Railroad Commission, in 1893, Illinois became one of the leading forces behind the design and manufacture of the highly accurate railroad timepieces that became world standards for accuracy and reliability. Illinois was known as the "Cadillac" of pocket watches back in the day! This watch is 16 size in a yellow gold-filled case that is in fantastic condition. This watch is a fine example of American watch making, circa 1916. The Illinois company made exceptional timepieces and this one is representative of how nice they turned out! Illinois put their heart and soul into making very accurate and elegantly engineered watches for the discerning customer. They honed their skills making railroad watches, like this one, for America's "iron horses". The nickel movement in this one has a very interesting damascening pattern in that it is a series of stripes that look really cool. The movement is an adjusted, 21 jewel, three-quarter plate, nickel marvel, that is running like a champ. Railroad watches were precisely regulated to keep the best time possible because people's lives depended on giant locomotives following a strict schedule.
Back in 1891, on April 18th, there was a head-on crash between two railroad trains just outside of Kipton, Ohio. The fast mail train #14 collided with the Toledo Express. The fast mail was running at full speed and the Toledo express was almost at a spot where it would traditionally pull over on a siding to let the fast mail pass. The massive collision killed nine men, six of them postal clerks working on the fast mail train. Investigators determined that the Toledo express crew was at fault. Their train was late and should not have started out for Kipton, knowing that the fast mail was approaching on the same line. The investigation centered on the engineer’s watches, one of which was possibly four minutes slow. A mere four minutes was the difference between life and death on the line. This is why American watch manufacturers strove to make the best possible watch one could own. This is one of those watches.
Look at the large ruby jewels and the gold jewel cups! Take a look at this wonderful porcelain dial, with its bold Arabic numerals for easy reading... it is immaculate! The bold, blued steel hand shape is easy to see for an engineer with one hand on the "Dead Mans" throttle. Additionally, the second hand, which is also blued steel, is the perfect complement to the large seconds bit at the 6 o'clock position. The plain polish, yellow gold-filled case shows only minor wear, commensurate with its age, and it looks great! This is a very nice, genuine Railroad Watch, 16 size, bold Arabic numerals, lever set, porcelain dial, screw back and bezel and a 60 Hour "Bunn Special" to boot. It has a beautiful damascening pattern on the nickel movement that just sings out for your attention. The case measures 50 mm in diameter, by 65 mm from the case bottom to the top of the bow, by 14 mm thick (including the crystal). What's not to like? Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with complete confidence. Don't let it get away.
Suffice it to say that we have never, in over 40 years, had a scarab pin as nice as this one. It is a fabulous Victorian brooch that is executed in 18K solid gold and which contains actual Scarabs. The iridescence of the scarabs backs are really amazing and, contrasted with the beautiful gold work of the mounting, it makes for a phenomenal piece. It measures 41 mm wide, by 41 mm tall, by 10 mm thick and it has a tiny chain that allows it to be worn as a necklace, or a watch pin... very versatile. Everyone who claps eyes on it is amazed and fascinated. Maybe it has an ancient Egyptian curse on it! It is certainly worthy of a place in a "Indiana Jones" film. What a unique piece!
Talk about an unusual watch... this is it. Many ladies' pendant watches were enameled but very few in a form that represents another object. This 18K Gold and Enamel "Jockey's Cap-Form Watch" is exquisite. To gild the lily, it also has its original "Jockey's Riding Crop Pin" that completes the entire theme of the piece. The Riding Crop lays across the "Lucky Horse Shoe" that sports 5 tiny rubies. From the horseshoe hangs a short length of gold mesh chain that ends in a clip used to secure the Jockey's Cap, but is removable. The overall length of the pin from the top of the horseshoe to the crown is roughly 90mm (3.6").
The cap is decorated with 3 sections of red enamel with a delicate scalloped pattern underneath. In the gold sections of the cap, the looped and dot design is executed in blue enamel. All of the enamel is in immaculate condition. Lines of texture engraved in the gold delineate the sections of the cap, as well as around the circumference of the brim/lids. It measures 27mm wide by roughly 32mm long (not including the crown or loop on the brim) by 17.5mm thick.
The top of the hat is a lid that opens to reveal the inner cover that is engraved with initials and "Dec. 3rd, 1892" which dates the piece exactly! The underside of the lid is stamped with the "18K" mark. It's a fabulous Victorian-era piece whose style still translates to today!
It was very gently treated over the hundred plus years of its existence and it has come down to us today in magnificent condition. It is worn with the underside of the cap resting against the chest, making it look like a very elegant gold & enamel pin. Once you lift it up, the dial is revealed and the object declares itself as a wonderful timepiece. The face features Louis XIV gold hands and a porcelain dial with ornate designs fired into it. The minute track features pyramidal markers in two tones: silver at the chapters and gold for the minutes. The black Arabic numerals are clear and easy to read, and an additional gold dot design in between the numerals ornaments them. Finally, a small gold radiating design around the center shaft adds some interest to the middle of the dial.
The only restoration that it required was a thorough cleaning, oiling, and regulating. It has a Swiss 10 jewel, cylinder escapement movement that is as beautiful as the day it was made. It is a "pin-set" mechanism and the crown sits at the back of the cap for easy winding. Our head watchmaker has it running like the proverbial top! Wow! This is one for the ages... don't miss it.
Rotary is a lesser-known brand in the US, but it traces its roots back to Switzerland, like so many brands of the time and is better known in Europe. The Rotary watch brand was founded in 1895 by Moise Dreyfuss in the Swiss town of La Chaux de Fonds. But, in the 1920s, Rotary began exporting watches to England and their popularity was such that they even became the official watch supplier for the British Army in 1940.
Rotary's founder was dedicated to creating beautiful watches with timeless elegance. His attention to detail and insistence on first class personal service ensured the business grew quickly. Their logo, the "winged wheel", was introduced in 1925, and is what you see on the dial of this watch.
And what a dial it is! It has been perfectly preserved, with the lume on the Arabic Numerals and in the blued-steel skeletonized hands having aged to that mellow yellow color we search for, but rarely find. The dial center is a matte silver and the chapter ring is a matte white, creating the striking "two tone" design. A gold ring encompasses the numerals and seconds bit, with a delineated minute track at the outside. At the 6 o'clock position sits the good sized seconds bit, above which is the designation "17 jewels". The combination and originality is just spectacular!
This particular Rotary watch is in such nice condition and our head watch maker has pointed out that the movement in this model features a solid gold escape wheel and fork -- a rarely seen combination! It is a manual wind, 17 jewel movement, with incabloc shock protection (as designated on the case back).
The stainless steel case measures 30.5 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 37 mm lug to lug, by 9 mm thick (including the crystal). It is in great condition, showing only very minor handling wear. The case back is engraved with its other claims of "waterproof" and "non magnetic". It is a screw-down back that seals beautifully.
This is the only Rotary watch we currently have, and it is a rare piece to find in such great condition. The 30's style is something to marvel at, and with our one year warranty you can be assured that it keeps time just like it did over 90 years ago!
Stunning and rare are two terms you might use to describe this Hamilton, 10K yellow gold-filled, "Seckron" Duo Dial Doctor's Wristwatch. This design was made for doctors with an extra large second hand that made it easy to read and take a pulse, for example, as opposed to a conventional subsidiary second hands. Because it had a limited target market, it was sold in small numbers and therefore is quite scarce today.
This particular watch is in excellent original condition, something that is rarely found in today's market. Two case styles were introduced, one in 1936 that had a rigidly rectangular case that was prone to wear at the corners and then this one in 1941, with a slightly curved case and a more streamlined shape that was right on target for fashion of the time. This version is actually scarcer of the two due to the start of WWII, which curtailed its production. The 10K yellow gold-filled case is in great condition overall, measuring 21 mm wide (not including the crown) by 42mm lug to lug, by 9mm thick (including the crystal). The subtle lines of the stepped case draw the eye and emphasize the length of the piece.
The gorgeous original dial shows a great patina, giving the watch a sophisticated appeal. The stylized Arabic numerals are easy to read, and pair nicely with the blued steel hands. The seconds bit below is in a circle design, with a "railroad track" ring to mark each second and the 10s of seconds distinguished with Arabic numerals. Radiating lines extend from the numbers to fill the rest of the rectangular space. This is an unusual look that you certainly won't find on other watches of the era!
Inside, the manual wind, 17 jewel movement is running strong and keeping excellent time. This watch employs the caliber 980 A movement, which features special gearing for the dial train. Hamilton was widely considered the best American watchmaker, so this is a high-quality piece that will still give you reliable service for years to come. Like everything else in the vintage and antique world, condition is everything!!!
This one is the nicest original Hamilton "Seckron" we have had in over 40 years. I think that the original condition of the dial is what seduces you on first glance. It has the patina of the age and speaks to what this watch must have seen during its life here since 1940. If it could only speak!
The Omega "Chronostop" is a very interesting landmark in Omega's long lineage of fantastic chronographs. They were introduced in the 1960s and had a great run through the 1970s. It is a very unusual chronograph, in that it only has one pusher and there is no recorded minutes, recorded hours, or constant seconds. This makes it a very utilitarian tool watch at a very attractive price point. Chronostops offered a 60-second stopwatch feature that is activated by a single pusher, located just above the crown. The first push starts the sweep hand. The second push stops it and resets it to 12 (once released). This makes it extremely simple to time an event and get an instant read-out, while then reseting for the next competitor, race car, horse, or pulse. These watches are very useful tools for athletes, drivers, and medical professionals, and sold well during their production run.
A Chronostop can be easily worn by all but the largest wrists. The stainless steel case is in great condition and measures 35 mm in width (not including the crown), by 39 mm lug to lug, by 12 mm thick (including the crystal). Our head watchmaker has the manually-wound Omega Calibre 865 movement, developed specifically for this model, working just as it did back 1969. This Chronostop is in the best condition for one of these awesome watches that we have ever had the pleasure to own... don't miss it!
This is a very interesting hunting case pocket watch made by Reuge, who was famous for the manufacture of Swiss music boxes. This pocket watch has a Swiss movement for timekeeping and a Swiss musical movement that plays anytime the front lid is opened. You thereby have a lovely tune to view the time by. Musical pocket watches are few and far between and this is one that won't break the bank. This is due to the fact that it is much more modern (circa 1970's) than many of the much older watches. $30,000.00 is not an exorbitant price to pay for an antique one. So, ours is a good compromise. The case, which measures 52mm in diameter, by 73mm (from the case bottom to the top of the bow), by 15mm thick (with both lids closed). It is yellow gold plated and the back sports an external key for winding the music box. The 17 jewel Swiss movement is wound by means of the conventional crown. As an extra, added attraction, there is an oval window that allows the owner to view the gears of the music box when it is in operation. Our head watchmaker has it running perfectly and sounding like it did the day it arrived on our shores from Switzerland. It is quite unusual... don't miss it.
If you would like a really elegant, solid gold, dress watch then take a look at this spectacular Longines from the early 1950s. Longines was at the top of their game and was highly respected in the US, as well as the rest of the world. They have a sterling reputation for quality and excellence. The "Hourglass" shape of the case is stunning, as is the domed, highly curved crystal. The silvered dial has stylized Roman numerals at the cardinal positions, while the other chapters exhibit elongated "arrowhead" markers... all in gold. There is a seconds bit just above the six o'clock position, with a recess that mimics the overall shape of the case. The 17 jewel movement is running like it did decades ago. The 14k solid gold case measures 20-25mm wide (at its widest) by 39mm lug to lug, by 11mm thick (including the crystal). We have fitted it with a classy, black, patent leather band that completes the tuxedo look. You can't go wrong with this one because our one-year warranty for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence. Don't miss it!
The Ansonia Clock company has a stellar reputation for quality and we whole-heartedly endorse that sentiment. They started making brass movement clocks in 1850 when the change from wooden clock works was in transition. They were quite successful and held a good segment of the market until about 1914 when the novelty clock became subject to fierce competition. This was Ansonia's strongest selling line, and, rather than maintain profit, Ansonia attempted to gain volume by offering clocks at "old pricing".
This tactic racked up huge debts, and by 1920 the number of models was down to 136 from a previous 440 models, and then 47 by 1927. In 1926 the company sold its Brooklyn warehouse, but this could not stem the inevitable. In 1929 the majority of the timekeeping machinery and tooling was sold to the Soviet government's US trading company Amtorg, just before the stock market crash.
This particular Ansonia was made during their heyday and what a beauty it is. The entire case, which measures 11.5" tall by 8.5" wide, by 4.25" deep, is beautifully gold gilded. There is a central, three dimensional, Putti holding a floral bough just below the dial. The porcelain dial is double sunk and displays one of Ansonia's "Exposed Escapements" that our head clock maker has ticking like the proverbial top. This escapement action is fascinating to observe and Ansonia installed this type of movement in their best clocks. Even the escapement bridge is gilded for maximum effect. This is a very "Art Nouveau" Clock that really gives one a sense of the design esthetic at the turn of the last century. The photos say it all and coupled with our one year warranty for parts and labor this is a clock that will please for generations to come.
Many ladies' wristwatches are kind of ho-hum, but not this Swiss Credos beauty! Its styling is evocative of the era of "Big Fin" automobiles and dramatic styling circa mid-1950s. It is executed in 18k solid rose gold and is the only one of these that we have ever had. The case measures 19mm wide (not including the crown) by 41mm lug to lug, by 8mm thick (including the crystal). The 17 jewel movement is in fantastic condition and our head watchmaker has it setting, winding, and keeping time just as it should.
Make sure you take a gander at the "Zoom-In" views to see the spectacular lugs on this one. They sweep your eye away from the main body of the watch with three elongated lobes on either end. These lobes form the curved lug body which is drilled to contain the thick rope cord band that gives it the ultimate vintage look. Everything about this watch is wonderful... from the design, to the performance of its movement! If this one appeals to you, grab it up... you will probably never see another as they are scarce! Our one-year warranty will allow you to buy with confidence.
It doesn't matter if you are Eloi or Morlock, this Hamilton "Flight II" will look great on your wrist. This reference to H.G. Wells' "Time Machine" does have its parallels with the passage of time and the ability to go back and re-live those forever-lost moments in time. Made over 60 years ago at the Hamilton Watch Factory in Lancaster, PA, this wonderful wristwatch was launched as one of Hamilton's avant-garde styling triumphs. The "Boomerang" motif was proof of their advanced styling, which was right in step with the automotive industry of that time. As a matter of fact, Hamilton had hired Richard Arbib from that industry to help bring the unusual shape to the Hamilton "Ventura" (the first electric watch). This "Flight II" is housed in a 10k gold-filled case that measures 28mm at its mid point (between the 9 & the 3), by 35mm at its extreme height, by 10mm thick (including the crystal). It is a manual wind caliber 770, 22 jewel movement that our head watchmaker has running like the day it was made. This is the nicest one of these scarce watches that we have owned in over 38 years. It sports a beautiful gold dial that has Arabic numerals at all the cardinal points with gold "pips" at all the other chapters. It also has the cross hair "gun sight" markings at the dial center. The finish is nothing short of spectacular. No one seems to know exactly how many of these watches were made or how many survive today, but I can tell you it is a fairly low number. When you take a look at the photo array, notice how crisp the cross-hatch texture is in the "Boomerang" shape at the top of the case and how it wraps all the way around the left side of the case. Many times this is where you will notice a great deal of wear...but not on this watch. We paired it with a textured expansion band that carries the motif all the way around your wrist. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to put this watch on your wrist with complete confidence. We have only one... don't miss it!