This Illinois wristwatch is one of the iconic watches that really resonated with the American public. Illinois claimed that it was "America's best selling strap watch." This bold statement was made in December of 1929, but they hedged their statement by saying that while "we do not have statistics on all of the strap watches sold in the United States, we do have the figures on the Illinois New Yorker - as a result we unhesitatingly entitle it "America's best selling strap watch." A big boast, but probably pretty close to the truth. Illinois' mavens touted it as: "A masculine strap watch for men who prefer the newer designs. With its fine Illinois 17 jewel movement, the New Yorker is a genuine timekeeper." Needless to say, it was a big hit.
This Illinois (made fifteen years earlier) was one of the precursors of the modern wristwatch. With the integrated seconds bit at 6 o'clock and its large crown, it drew attention from anyone that saw it. This particular Illinois is one that has a different position on the wrist because the manufacturers were still unsure as to how the public would wear them and what was the most convenient viewing angle. The purpose of the design, however, becomes apparent when the watch is worn on the inside of the wrist and its eccentric orientation comes into its own as a "driving watch". It is oriented so that when your arm was outstretched the 12 is looking right at you. It was only in later years that you needed to bend your wrist to orient the 12 in the manner we are used to today. Yes, this is a pioneering design that you will not see walking up and down the street.
It is in great condition and looks so good on the wrist you won't want to take it off. It is housed in a beautifully engraved, solid 14k gold case that measures 28.5 mm wide (not including the crown), by 35 mm lug to lug, by 8 mm thick (including the crystal). This is a size that can be worn by anyone. The gold dial displays Roman numerals and Breguet-style, blued steel hands. It is engraved with the three initials of the original owner on the reverse and comes with its original 14k gold-filled link band.
If you are a fan of the Illinois factory, like me, you will love the look of this one. Our head watchmaker assures me that it is winding, setting, and keeping time just as it did in 1914. This is one scarce, early wristwatch, that can be yours. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence. Don't miss it!
Founded in 1884, Breitling had a long track record as a premier watchmaker. Founder Léon Breitling had impressed his watchmaking contemporaries with innovative design and rugged "tool watches" for aviators. Many of Breitling’s chronographs were worn by military forces and police officers giving them the stamp of approval.
After World War I, Breitling made a big push to become the watch of choice for aviation crews, during the tenure of Leon's grandson, Willy, as company head. The Swiss watchmaker focused on manufacturing watches that allowed pilots to quickly calculate flight speed and distance. During this innovative time, Breitling debuted the "Navitimer" collection which featured a slide rotating bezel that made the crucial in-flight calculations (like fuel consumption and air speed) even easier for pilots. Ultimately, Breitling won the bid to supply watches to the Royal Air Force.
The Breitling Superocean is a classic that has only improved over time (no pun intended) with each iteration. This blue A17040 model was produced from 1995-2002, and it is in great shape and looks great on the wrist. It has a 25 jewel automatic movement with a stainless steel case measuring 42 mm in diameter (without the crown), by 47 mm lug to lug, by 15 mm thick (including the crystal). It is paired with its original "Professional 1" bracelet with subtle polished & brushed link finishes and a diver's clasp.
Breitling helped define the classic diver's watch with the Superocean starting back in 1957 for military and professional divers, but the style and brand soon became very popular with the general public. Here is a really nice example that can be yours for about half of retail. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence.
Waltham was a wonderful and prolific watch manufacturer located in Waltham, MA and they were in business from 1851 to 1957, in various iterations. Their earlier efforts, circa 1850 in Roxbury, MA, resulted in the Howard, Dennison & Davis moniker, later changed to Boston Watch Company, then Appleton, Tracey, & Co., the American Watch Co., and finally the Waltham Watch Company. They were one of the giants of the industry and second largest only to Elgin.
This particular Waltham is a 17 jewel, adjusted, white gold-filled, wandering seconds, open face pocket watch. It is such a beautiful watch in the Art Deco style that you will want to take it out of your pocket at every opportunity. The 12 size case measures 44 mm in diameter, by 52 mm (from the case bottom to the top of the bow), by 10 mm thick (including the crystal). The silvered, two-tone dial is in fantastic condition and it displays a rotating disc just above the 6 o'clock position where the "wandering seconds dial" can be observed.
As an added bonus, the back has an inlaid blue & black enamel design that frames the unengraved cartouche meant for your family initials. The case middle has an ornately engraved protruding edge that allows the user an easy grip. Yes, everything about this watch is spectacular... including the condition of the movement. It is winding, setting, and keeping time just as it did after the crash of the stock market in 1929. I don't ever recall having a nicer one of these scarce watches after being in the business for over 42 years. Don't miss it... we have only one!
Born in Denmark circa 1745, Jørgen Jürgensen was to become the founding father of the horological dynasty that became Jules Jürgensen in 1814. He was the father of Danish watchmaking, after receiving Royal support and training apprentices to create a domestic industry. His son, Urban Jürgensen took over operations after his father's death after training to become one of the best watchmakers in the world at that time.
Jules Jürgensen watches were later produced in Switzerland until 1957, and from 1834 to 1912 the company was garnered over 34 awards for excellence. To this very day, the company is revered for their prowess in horology and their elegant timepieces.
The Jules Jürgensen dress watch that we present here is a watch to be wished for! It is a wonderful 14k solid yellow gold watch with a silvered dial from the mid-1950s that is in wonderful condition. The case measures 33 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 42 mm lug to lug, by 11 mm thick (including the crystal). Don't miss the spectacular "Crab Leg Lugs" that really set this watch apart in terms of refined style! You won't find many other watches with this case and lug configuration out there! We have fitted it with a nice black croco grain band that suits it well as a dress piece.
Next, make sure you take a gander at the impressive and subtle domed dial. It does show some patina due to its age, but it is less evident in person and the classic style still shines through. The dauphine hands pair beautifully with the gold triangular applied hour markers around the dial. At the cardinal points sit the applied Arabic numerals 3, 6, 9, 12. The arrow sweep second hand points at the dotted minute track around the outside of the dial for added functionality. Below the 12 is the brand name "Jules Jürgensen" with the "Estd 1740" tag line just underneath. Above the 6 is just the "Automatic" designation, finishing off the clean styling.
Inside, it sports a Swiss 17 jewel, automatic movement that is spotless. Our head watchmaker has it running, winding, and setting like the day it made its way here to America. This rare find can be yours, and with our 1 year warranty for parts and labor, you can buy with confidence!
This is a one of a kind, artist-designed and custom-made necklace that is simply spectacular. The photos really don't do it justice. There is a multiplicity of precious gems that are displayed within the necklace to make the overall effect wonderful. The backbone of the piece is sterling silver and you will see emeralds, sapphires, amethyst, garnet, and citrine in a glorious spray of red and green flowers, butterflies and tendrils. Everyone will be asking for a closer look when you wear this out on the town! Don't miss it as we have only one!
When I was a boy (before there was dirt), Thor Heyerdahl was a big deal. He was the "Indiana Jones" of his day and on April 28, 1947, Heyerdahl and five other adventurers, to prove a theory about the ability of the ancients to make extensive ocean going voyages (and to quiet his detractors), hand built a raft and sailed from Peru across the Pacific Ocean to the Polynesian island of Puka Puka. A voyage over 4300 miles of open ocean. He named this raft the "Kon-Tiki" and in the 1950s I was an eager reader of the book by the same name.
On that voyage, Heyerdahl and the crew wore Eterna wristwatches. In 1958, Eterna created the "Kon-Tiki" line in honor of Heyerdahl. It is a great Chronograph "tool watch," which is driven by a 17 jewel, automatic movement that features the trademark five ball-bearing rotor system for excellent timekeeping. The stainless steel case with the "Kon-Tiki" logo on the back, measures 39 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 44 mm lug to lug, by 13 mm thick (including the crystal).
This particular watch was made circa 1989, in the fine tradition of the "Kon-Tiki" line and it is in great condition. The black dial provides a good contrast for the hands to make it a very readable watch. You can see the "recorded minutes" subsidiary dial just below the 12 o'clock position, and the "recorded hours" sub dial at the 6 o'clock position, and the "Constant Seconds" sub dial at the 9 o'clock position. Along the dial edge of this Swiss beauty there is a "Tachymeter Scale" for calculating speed. The stainless steel bezel just gleams and the red sweep seconds hand ties it all together. The stainless steel link band is in great shape and looks fantastic.
What's not to like here? ... Nothing! Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence.
Movado is a Swiss manufacturer known for its Museum Watch. Designed in 1947, by Bauhaus-influenced artist Nathan George Horwitt, the watch dial has a very simple design where the dial is defined by a solitary dot at 12, symbolizing the sun at high noon, but Movado also made some very nice watches that are of superior quality...this is one of those. It is a gentleman's wristwatch that is "chronometer" rated, indicating that it has passed rigid standards for accuracy. It is, in fact, at the pinnacle of mechanical watches in a world where few qualify for this mark.
Some Movado watch models have Esperanto names such as Bela ("beautiful"), Belamodo ("beautiful fashion"), Fiero ("pride"), Brila ("brilliant"), Linio ("line"), and Verto ("crown"). The company's name means "movement" in Esperanto.
This Movado has a 15 jewel movement in a sterling silver oversize case with a very nice silver grey dial that has stylized Art Deco, Arabic numerals that once glowed in the dark, along with the skeletonized blued steel hands. There is a perfectly square seconds bit at the 6 o'clock position completing the look. The "Chronometer" designation indicates that it had to pass very strict standards for timekeeping and that it was issued a certificate from COSC (an acronym) which stands for Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres — aka the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute. Essentially, this body is responsible for certifying the precision and accuracy of high-precision wristwatches made in Switzerland, typically found on luxury watch brands. What it means to you is that this is a very reliable timepiece that will be a joy to own. The case, which measures 25 mm in width(not including the crown), by 36 mm lug to lug, by 10 mm thick (including the crystal), is a beauty to behold. To gild the lily, we have fitted it with a black genuine lizard band. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence.
Art Nouveau lovers pay attention! This is, by far, one of the nicest brooches we had ever had after being in business for over 40 years. It is simply a spectacular example from 1900 in sterling silver with inset diamonds and a featured amethyst and natural pearl. It measures 45 mm wide, by 39 mm in height, by 10 mm thick but it seems to really soar visually within that sterling silver framework. The "butterfly" shape is beautifully executed and it displays a lovely 6 mm by 5 mm ovoid pearl in the head position. The wings are diamond-studded with over 30 diamonds and the central body is the 14 mm by 10 mm expertly faceted amethyst. This is a pin to die for! Don't miss it.
Elgin, the worlds largest manufacturer of pocket watches, produced an excellent product, from dress watches to Railroad timekeepers. Everything they turned their hand to they did with exceeding attention to detail and reliability. They were also responsible for some innovative advancements in the art of horology.
Take a gander at this wonderful 14K solid gold, box hinge, multicolor, with a prized Elgin "Convertible" as its engine. Made circa 1882, this watch was part of the cutting edge technology that made Elgin great. Other firms had "box hinge" cases, and some with multicolor cases, but Elgin held the patents for the "Convertible" movement. This 3/4 plate, nickel movement has the ability to be used in either a hunting case, or an open face case, due to its unique ability to change its winding stem position from the 3 o'clock position, to the 12 o'clock position. When you take a look at the movement you will see the unusual dished wheel at the center of the movement. This is the tell-tale clue that lets you know you have an Elgin "Convertible" in your hand. It is a 15 jewel, nickel movement (the best grade).
So, here we have a very unusual movement that is scarce, but now take a look at the 14K solid, multicolor case. It is a "box hinge" that measures 49 mm in diameter, by 79 mm (from the case bottom to the top of the bow), by 15 mm thick with the lid closed. Yes, it is massive, but now look at the design on the case lids. Nothing short of spectacular! There is a nautical scene depicting a lighthouse warning two ships of the rocky shore. The beacon at the top is a mine-cut diamond that simulates the shining light while the lighthouse has rose and pink gold accents while the ground under it is rendered in green gold. Wow what a scene! A wreath of entwined green gold leaves surround the cover's edge. On the back, we are treated to one of the most elaborate personalization that we have ever seen. It is so intricate that we are hard pressed to determine what the initials are, but we can tell you that they are impressive. This lid also has the green gold wreath of leaves that matches the front cover.
Add to all of this what we discover on the inner lid... a central photo frame for your significant other's picture. The photo of the original owner's wife is still in place in that frame... what a gem of history for this timepiece. Our head watchmaker has it running like the day it left Elgin, over 140 years ago. This monument to Victorian timekeeping can be yours... don't miss it!
It was way back in 1886 that Edmond Mathey-Tissot began making complicated pocket watches in Les Ponts-de-Martel. He became known for watches of high quality, in some of the most complicated pocket watches made at that time, especially repeaters that chime the time on demand. He also began producing highly-rated chronometers and, during the Second Boer War, was a supplier to the military and that demanded his expansion of the manufacture. It is said that a Scottish nobleman ordered 2500 watches to give to every member of his son's regiment, with officers receiving solid gold repeaters and the other enlisted men receiving silver repeaters. Wow! What a gift!
In 1914, Mathey-Tissot was represented at the Kew Observatory Competition by six Observatory Chronometers capable of split-second timing, all six being rated 'Class A' with the comment "specially good." The same year, Mathey-Tissot gained the Grand Prix at the Swiss National Exhibition. During WWI, the company supplied the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with precision chronographs in large quantities, while General Pershing, commanding the U.S. Expeditionary Forces, chose the watch to award to members of his own staff. Both before and after WWII, the company continued to supply the U.S. Army and the Royal Navy. By 1937, the E. Mathey-Tissot & Co. was a protected trademark in the U.S.
So, as you can see, the company has an excellent pedigree and the watch we are offering here is the beneficiary of that long line of excellence. It is an 18K solid gold gentlemen's wristwatch that has 17 jewels, and which measures 33 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 40 mm lug to lug, by 8 mm thick (including the crystal). The silvered dial has a very nice patina and slender gold bar markers at the 12, 3, 6, and nine o'clock position, but what makes it spectacular are the "lightning bolt" gold markers at all the other chapters. It is simply fantastic. There is a large seconds bit at the six o'clock position that lets you know the watch is running smoothly. This is an 18K solid gold watch made during a time when most dress watches in America were only 14K. Our head watchmaker has it winding, setting and keeping time just as it did when it was new, back in 1960. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to wear this watch for years to come with complete confidence.
This is a very unusual pocket watch made for the Latin American market. It is called a "Retrograde Jump Hour". As the minute hand reaches what would normally be the three o'clock position, it jumps backwards to what would normally be the 9 o'clock position and, as it does so, the Roman numeral in the window just below the 12 o'clock position also jumps to the new hour. It's quite a spectacle to view and, back in the day (circa 1906), it was just astounding. This watch is in perfect working condition and is fully restored. The watch is a 19 lignes, 15 jewel movement housed in a yellow gold-filled case that measures 50 mm in diameter, by 69 mm (from the case bottom to the top of the bow), by 13 mm thick (including the crystal). Interestingly, this watch was also used as a promotional piece that advertised "Cigarillos Excelsior" and is so marked on the dial. When you open the case back and take a gander at the dust cover, you will see the Nouveau font that was used during the Art Nouveau period (1890-1910). The case back is beautifully engraved with a Nouveau design and it has, at its center, an un-engraved cartouche just waiting for your family initials. This is a scarce watch that is in excellent condition and one that delights the senses every time you gaze at its unusual dial configuration. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to purchase this handsome watch with complete confidence... don't miss it!
Rarely do we get a ladies vintage Rolex but, every once in a while, even a blind squirrel finds a nut - and what a nut it is! This is the elegant "Lady Princess" Rolex. It is executed in 18k solid white gold and displays some spectacular diamonds that grace the curved lugs. The 17 jewel movement is winding, setting, and keeping time just as it did over 84 years ago, thanks to the expertise of our master watchmakers. The case measures 11 mm wide (not including the crown), by 38 mm lug to lug, by 6 mm thick (including the crystal). This gives it a very elegant proportion to match the beauty of the 18k case and fantastic rectangular movement. The lugs curve downward and contain the portal for the black, cord band that allows a perfect fit for the wearer. Make sure you zoom-in on the photos to see how the diamonds in the lugs shine... they are stunning. The watch is in excellent condition, was lovingly cared for over the years, and has all of its original parts. Yes, its pricey but, this is the pinnacle of a ladies Rolex, circa 1935... and it can be yours. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence. Don't miss it... we have only one and are not likely to find another.