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.
You may be familiar with the famous LeCoultre "Memovox," well this is the same movement but made to be carried in your pocket or purse and used while traveling, at your bedside. It comes with its own leather pouch to protect it when traveling.
It has a rotating inner dial that is set by the second crown and indicated by an arrow that points to the time the watch will alarm. Once you wind the separate mainspring to power the alarm function and set the inner dial, all is in ready until the appointed time. Once the alarm is triggered, it can be shut off by depressing the alarm crown and/or moving the arrow (on the inner dial) to a new position. Or, if you don't wish to use the alarm, simply let the mainspring power down. LeCoultre is a legendary Swiss watch manufacturer and everything they turned their hand to was perfection. Their manufacture stemmed from the many inventions that they produced. Founded in 1833, they invented a machine to cut steel pinions for watches and went on to produce hundreds of inventions and thousands of calibers in the years since. One of the most impressive accomplishments, achieved in 1844, was the invention of the "Millionmeter," the world's most precise measuring instrument. In 1847, they invented a device that did away with key winding and, by 1866, the first manufacture under one roof in the Valle de Joux. This is one of their really elegant watches and one that is becoming scarce... especially in 18k solid gold! In 1950, the manufacture released the Memovox, or the “voice of memory.” Its striking mechanism could be used as an alarm for waking up, appointments, timetables, etc. The first models were hand wound and equipped with the Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre 489.
In 1955, LeCoultre made this interesting pocket alarm. It is a stellar piece, which can be yours. Remember, all of our timepieces come with our famous one year warranty, for parts and labor, so that you may buy with confidence. This one is a real classic... don't miss it!
The "Memovox" was first introduced by Jaeger-LeCoultre, circa 1950/51, employing the manually wound, 17 jewel, Calibre 489. The name "Memovox" is a composite of two Latin word, Memor (remembering) and Vox (voice), meaning "the voice of remembering," an apt choice for a timepiece that "remembers the time". While we are quite jaded today by all the electronic devices that will tell us the time, that was not so years ago when alarm watches were quite the innovative personal possession. Make sure you take a look at the "Zoom-In" photos to get the real feel of the beauty of this wonderful watch. The yellow gold filled case measures 44mm long, by 46mm at its widest, by 11mm thick (including the crystal). You set the inner alarm dial by pulling out the crown in the eleven o'clock position and rotating the crown counterclockwise. You would position the triangular indicator opposite the time that you wished to have the alarm sound. You would also wind the spring that causes this effect by using this same crown. The crown that winds the timekeeping mainspring is in the one o'clock position and it functions like any other manual wind watch. Don't forget, all of our timepieces are warrantied for one-year, for parts and labor, so that you may buy with confidence.
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.
Here we have a very elegant Ladies' Swiss (Geneve) key-wind pocket watch with inlaid enamel. It is an 8 jewel, key-wind, key-set, cylinder movement, executed in 18K solid gold... and what a beauty it is! The watch measures 33mm in diameter, by 45mm from the case bottom to the top of the bow, by 10mm thick. The "Geneve" designation is an indication of high quality and the ability to pass stringent testing. The inner dust cover is inscribed "Geneve Cylindre Rubis", indicating this designation and the fact that it has ruby jewels. Make sure you notice the extraordinary inlaid enamel in a three leaf foliate design on the back cover. There is some minor loss of enamel, but it is quite spectacular for such an old piece. It still has its original "Bullseye" crystal which is in great shape. The Geneva Finger Bridge movement is in fantastic condition and setting, winding, and keeping time just as it did over 143 years ago. Our one-year warranty will allow you to buy with confidence.
The Columbus Watch Company was making pocket watches in Columbus, Ohio from 1874 until 1903. As a matter of fact, Dietrich Gruen (later of the Gruen Watch Company) was the founder at the age of 27. He had developed a safety pinion (which prevented damage to the watch gears if a mainspring broke) and was granted a patent that same year. He started by finishing movements imported from Madretsch, Switzerland (a suburb of Biel...a well known watch-making area). By 1882, D. Gruen and his partner W. J. Savage began making watches locally and by 1884 were also making their own dials. This particular Columbus was made circa 1891 and is housed in a yellow gold-filled, 18 size, hunting case. It contains a full-plate, lever-set, gilded, 7 jewel movement with the famous "Patented Pinion". By 1894, the company went into receivership and Gruen started again as D. Gruen & Sons, emerging with the later fame of the Gruen Watch Company. This watch has such an interesting case, due to the mirror-like center design on both lids. This is surrounded by a fancy, overall floral engraving that gives a rich appearance. The front lid has an un-engraved cartouche and the back lid is centered by a single flower in full bloom. Is is quite unusual. The porcelain dial displays Roman numerals, a sunken seconds bit, and blued-steel hands. The set lever is at the 5 o'clock position and the crystal bezel has a reeded edge. Even the case middle is engraved with the floral design and the case lids snap down with real authority. Of course, our watchmakers have it winding, setting, and keeping time like the fine watch it was meant to be. Don't miss it!
Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will assure you of years of continued pleasure and service from this very nice Columbus.
We get a lot of Waltham Pocket Watches here at Father Time Antiques but, we have never had this particular model before. It is a "Seaside", 7 jewel, three-quarter plate, gilded movement that is in fantastic condition. We think that it was only used on a blue moon month and then every other year. Seriously, it shows such minor use that we have no qualms recommending it for acquisition by someone who wants a watch that is in great condition. The inner case dust cover is mirror-like and the engraving is as clear as it was the day it left the factory. The front lid has those intertwined initials that form an intricate design (a "B" and an "H") and the back lid has the most wonderful engraving of a lighthouse at the - wait for it - "seaside". Both of these lids have floral and woodland engravings that cover 90% of the available space and each has a reeded lid edge. The lids are simply fantastic in their design and condition. The 6 size, yellow-gold filled case measures 41mm in diameter, by 58mm from the case bottom to the top of the bow, by 13mm thick. For a watch made circa 1885, this one is stellar.
It winds, sets, and keeps time just as it should! Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with peace of mind.
The Elgin Watch Company had a great sense of what the public wanted and how to make those watches that filled the bill. This ladies' solid gold, "O" size hunting case really hit the nail on the head. It was elegant and unobtrusive and it added just the right touch to a lady's costume, circa 1897. The 14k solid gold case measures 36mm in diameter, by 49mm (from the case bottom to the top of the bow), by 11mm thick... just the right size to wear on a slide chain or on a watch pin. It is a 7 jewel (typical for a ladies watch at this time) and it bears the inscription (on the inner dust cover) "Cora Partlow from Grandpa January 17, 1897"... if only they could talk and tell us what they had seen in the late 1890s. The porcelain dial is beautiful in its simplicity and is contrasted by the delicate blued steel hands. This is the only one we have had the pleasure to own with these fascinating concentric circles as the case design. The cartouche has the letter "N" engraved in script on the front case lid. So it's perfect if your name is Nancy, Norma, Nina, Natalie, Nellie... well you get the idea! Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence.
We get more Elgin pocket watches than almost any other company's production, due to our proximity to the Elgin area (a suburb of Chicago) and we are delighted that this is so because, Elgin was a wonderful company that made a really nice watch. The plus side for you, today, is that we have also purchased a large stock of Elgin parts, over the years we have been in business (38 and counting) and we can fix anything they made, with all original parts. This 15 jewel, three-quarter plate, nickel movement in a yellow gold-filled, 16 size hunting case measuring 47mm in diameter, by 41mm from the bottom of the case to the top of the bow, by 8mm thick. The watch has been lovingly cared for since 1910 and our head watchmaker tells me that he thinks it is good for another 100 years, if you take good care of it. The porcelain dial is very nice and it sports black Arabic numerals and blued steel hands. Notice the seconds bit at the six o'clock position and how nice the engraving is on the case lid and back. The cartouche has the original owner's initials engraved in a very fancy script that appears as an integral design of the watch. It is a very nice hunter that can be yours. Our one year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to enjoy it worry-free!
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 Waltham is a 21 Jewel, "Crescent Street", adjusted to temperature and 5 positions. It is a lever-set, yellow gold-filled case, double sunk porcelain dial (with bold Arabic numerals), railroad watch that measures 51mm in diameter, by 62mm from the case bottom to the top of the bow, by 18mm thick (including the crystal). It is a screw back, screw bezel case and the hands are bold blued steel. There is a seconds bit at the 6 o'clock position that also has a blued steel hand. It sports strong shoulders surrounding the crown and a non-pull-out bow. What a nice 16 size railroad pocket watch! It is running well within railroad standards, just as it should, and the engraved bezels (front and back) give it a handsome look. There is minor brassing on the case back high points but it does not detract. This may be the one for you. If so, give us a call. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence.
The Rockford Watch company held forth from 1873 until 1915, a fairly short time in the history of watch factories, but they really made their mark due to their quality pocket watches. They only made 1,000,000 watches over that time period. So, there are not many about, today. The factory started with machinery that they purchased from the Cornell Watch Company and, at their zenith, employed about 400 workers. There is a contemporary account of production being about 70 watches a day with a sidebar saying that they were behind in their orders. By 1888, they had increased production to 150 per day and by 1901 they were re-organized with plans for increased production, but there were many impediments in the way. On September 26th, 1903, their 100 foot tall brick chimney was struck by lightening damaging a 40 foot section and causing a ton of bricks to fall and break out the windows on the north side of the building, were light was admitted for the benefit of those workers who were assembling watches. A Miss Carrie Hensel, who was an employee of the train department, "was taken home in serious condition on the verge of nervous prostration." A machinist by the name of Mr. Braconian said "his apron was torn off during the excitement" and that "he was stunned for a short time." By 1915, it was all over. The downturn in the watch market contributed to their demise, as did many other factors, but while they were in business they were a well-respected company who made great watches.
This particular Rockford is an 18 size, circa 1880, 11 jewel, coin silver, sidewinder, which is in a 59mm diameter case that is 23mm thick (including the crystal) and is 84mm from the bottom of the case to the top of the bow. It is massive... what one of the old-timers would call a real "turnip." Our master watchmaker has it performing just as it did way back when... a testament to their engineering. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence.
Novelty watches were in great favor because they only cost a few dollars and they were quite reliable for the price point. We here at Father Time Antiques have seen hundreds of them over the years but, this is the first one we have had with such an interesting dial. The entire dial is a golf ball that is branded "U.S. Royal". The nickel plated case measures 48mm in diameter by 58mm with the crown and bow, by 15mm thick (including the crystal). It was made in Bristol, CT by the Ingraham Company who made their fortune by producing reliable and inexpensive wristwatches, pocket watches, and clocks. It is running, winding, and setting great. The only thing you can fault is that someone in its past life tried to polish the case back and, in the photo you can see, they took off the nickel plating (down to the brass) by doing so. Everything else is fine. For the price point, you can't beat it. Fully restored and warrantied, for one year, for parts and labor!
Gruen watches are top quality and this one is a cut above many of their other watches. Its unusual appearance is due to two factors. The slender profile and rose-colored dial combine to give a unique, Art Deco look to an easy-to-carry timepiece. It is also very thin for its era and, because of this, is classified as an "Opera Watch". This designation signified that it was easy to carry in a tuxedo vest while in attendance at the opera. It is a 15 jewel, Caliber 381 thoroughbred movement in a yellow gold-filled case with stylized gold hands and a seconds bit at the 6 o'clock position. The case measures 39mm in diameter by 51mm from the bottom of the case to the top of the bow by 8.5mm thick. It also sports an oblong bow and a great, original dial with gold applied numerals, circa 1939. This Gruen is very unusual and scarce and it can be yours. Fully restored and warrantied. Remember all of our timepieces come with our famous one-year warranty for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence.