We, here at Father Time, are enamored of anything Elgin and this one is no exception. It is a six size, yellow gold filled, hunting case, 11 jewel, that measures 41mm in diameter, by 58mm from the bottom of the case to the top of the bow, by 12mm thick. It is a great crossover size that can be worn by a man or a woman. It is a little larger than a typical ladies pendant watch and slightly smaller than the large, so called, "turnips" that a Victorian man might carry. This size makes it perfect for today's clothing. The case is quite handsome and it has an un-engraved, raised cartouche just waiting for your family initial to be inscribed. The overall case design is still in great shape and the lids open easily. There is a reeded-edge bezel that surrounds the Roman numeral porcelain dial and it sports three blued steel hands. You can be assured that our head watchmaker has it running like the day it left the factory, way back in 1885, and our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with complete confidence.
The National Watch Company was the beginning of the famed Elgin Watch Company (the world's largest) in Elgin Illinois. Between 1864 and 1874, they operated under the National name and, only after that time, became the Elgin National Watch Company and then, finally, just Elgin. They were a giant in the industry and their legacy looms large. Since they were only operating under the National name for ten years, the watches from that era are getting scarce. This particular one is a beauty. It is an 18 size, measuring 54mm in diameter, by 77mm from top of the bow to the bottom of the case by 19mm thick. It is a 15 jewel, key-wind, key-set, full-plate watch with a gilded movement and a porcelain dial. The hands are very fancy for that day and age. Made from blued steel they are executed in a "Butterfly" form hour hand. The dial displays Roman numerals and a very large seconds bit just below the watch center. It is quite dramatic and running like all good Elgins should. Don't let this scarce early National evade you. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence!
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.
This Bulova is one of the watches that became so popular with the American public due to their rectangular elegance and great reliability starting in the 1940s and enduring throughout the '50s. The yellow gold-filled case measures 37 mm lug-to-lug by, 21 mm in width, and 9 mm thick. It is a twenty-one jewel (8AC), Swiss movement that runs, sets, and keeps time beautifully. This particular model has what are called "Hooded Lugs" where the band disappears under a hood that connects over the tops of the lugs. It is a size that can be easily worn by either a man or a woman, although it was originally a man's watch. This smaller configuration was perfect for wearing under a dress shirt for your office job. The creamy silvered dial has applied Arabic numerals at the even positions with markers at the others.
There is a nice seconds bit just above the six o'clock position. We have fitted it with a dark brown croco grain band for the ultimate in elegant accessories. Our one year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence that this watch will perform just as it should!
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 are no recorded minutes, recorded hours, or constant seconds registers. This gives the dial a clean appearance and puts it at a very attractive price point. To use the Chronostop, the 60-second stopwatch feature is activated by a single press of the only pusher located at the 2 o'clock position. The orange central sweep second hand starts ticking, and then the second push stops it and resets it to 12 all at once. In order to hold the second hand in place to take an accurate reading, simply press the pusher in and hold it down. The second hand will stop in place, then fly back once the pusher is released. This makes it extremely simple to time an event and get an instant read-out, while then resetting 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.
To contrast the bright pop of orange color on the second hand, the dial is a beautiful gray color that also allows the white minute and hour hands to be easily read. The seconds are delineated along the outer rim, with thin lines that allow the time to be ready to 1/5 of a second. The "pie pan" shape to the dial adds interest and places the applied stainless markers at an angle. It's an eye-catching design that you won't find on other chronographs!
A Chronostop sits comfortably on most wrists, with its slightly larger size and sleek case. The brushed stainless steel cushion 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 Caliber 865 movement, developed specifically for this model, working just as it did back 1969. This was a high-quality movement, with 17 jewels and an operating frequency of 21,600 bph for accuracy of timekeeping. 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!
Many manufacturers were involved in the war effort during WWII, and while Gruen did not have a military contract for watches, they did supply pilot's watches with 24-hour dials for Pan American World Airways. This production was initiated circa 1943. During the war, Pan Am stopped all commercial operations and flew only for the U.S. Military. They had overseas bases and a network of airports that was highly valued in the war effort.
In the early 1940s, a wristwatch with a central sweep second hand was a rarity, and one with a 24 hour dial was even more unusual. But Gruen's reasoning was that men were coming home from the war and they were used to referencing the 24-hour day for military purposes. Pilots also were used to this form of reference, so they decided to introduce this Pan Am model with a central sweep second hand, Arabic numerals from 1 to 12, and an inner chapter ring that referenced hours 13 to 24. Air travel was not common at this time, so it also held a certain glamorous allure for the common man. Gruen decided to feature advertisements with photos of the Pan Am watch set against a background of the famous Pan Am Clipper (a flying-boat type of aircraft). This was hot stuff back in the day! They planned to carrot-dangle the unobtainable Pan Am while it was still a pilot's-only watch, knowing that after the war there would be considerable demand among the general public.
It wasn't until October of 1945 that they finally offered the watch for public sale. Airline travel was just becoming something that was within the reach of those adventurous travelers and Gruen wanted to provide just the right accessory for that airline customer. Jewelers were advised to stock-up on these wonderful timepieces in order to meet the demand as "Johnny came marching home". Their prescience was rewarded with vigorous sales and these pieces that, once restored, can live on as a piece of history.
The watch we are presenting for your approval here is one that our watch makers have lovingly restored to fully functional condition. It is one of the early models, and we think, one of the most desirable configurations for any of the Pan Am series. A Gruen "Veri-Thin" model that is housed in a rose gold-filled case that measures 32 mm in diameter (without the crown), by 39 mm lug to lug, by 10 mm thick (including the crystal). Notice the stepped, dimensional lugs that really make this case stand out.
It sports a stainless steel back for wearing longevity, with a hypo-allergenic surface against the wrist. The 17 jewel movement is Gruen's legendary 420s that is ticking along just as it did when crossing the Atlantic during the war. Now, take a look at the wonderful, original dial--its condition speaks of what it has endured and yet still looks great today. Many of these dials have been refinished over their lifetime but not this one... it is all original. 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!
In the Victorian Era, a woman was not properly accessorized unless she had a great looking cameo in her arsenal. The most valued cameos were those that had solid gold bezels, like this one. Not only is it solid gold, but 18k to boot! What really makes it stellar, however, is the classical-themed Athenian lady that is hand-carved in relief. Her hair, clothing, and regal demeanor set the tone and the wonderful colors of the hand-carved shell lend all the right attributes to make this a very desirable example.
This particular cameo also has the best of both worlds when it comes to wearing it -- it has the standard pin back, but it also has an articulated loop at the top that allows it to be worn as a necklace pendant. When turned down, it disappears so it can't be seen when being worn as a pin. The gold bezel surround is substantial and is hand engraved at its edge. A rope banding where the bezel joins the oval back finishes off the piece with a little extra classical style.
It measures approximately 39mm wide, by 50mm tall, by 12mm thick (not including the pin back). It is a real stunner that can be yours! Don't miss it!
This is quite an unusual convertible combination of a necklace and a bracelet. By attaching or detaching the longer necklace neck-piece, one can convert the bracelet to a necklace, or vice-versa. A very clever set... indeed! It is executed in 12K solid rose gold and is very attractive when worn. The combination of the emeralds, the mother-of-pearl, and the white sapphires makes for an unusual piece and a stunning look. The first photo shows the necklace configuration, while the second photo displays the central array, the third photo shows the bracelet configuration, and finally the two complimentary pieces side-by-side. If you are desirous of an unusual necklace/bracelet combination then this may be the set for you!