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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

14k yellow gold American Waltham hand engraved pocket watch with white dial, 1900

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
1900
Country of origin
United States
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 2797
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2797)
Catalogue title (original)
14k yellow gold American Waltham hand engraved pocket watch with white dial (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 2797), this is a pocket watch, made in United States, dated 1900. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop

Step back in time with the exquisite 14k yellow gold American Waltham hand-engraved pocket watch, a testament to the artistry and precision of early 20th-century watchmaking. Crafted in 1900, this remarkable piece from the esteemed American Watch Co. WALTHAM collection showcases a heavy, round 33mm casing adorned with intricate hand engravings that grace both the front and back, encapsulating the elegance of a bygone era. The watch features a pristine white enamel dial with black enamel Roman numerals, ensuring perfect readability and adding to its timeless charm. Equipped with a manual winding mechanism and 17 jewels, this hunting case variety pocket watch is not just a functional timepiece but a work of art. Its excellent condition and superior craftsmanship make it a standout addition to any collection or a sophisticated accessory for the discerning individual. Originating from the United States and embodying the artisan style of the early 20th century, this pocket watch is a true collector’s gem. Introducing a truly remarkable pocket watch from the American Watch Co. WALTHAM collection dating back to the 1900s. This stunning timepiece exudes sophistication and style with its heavy 14K yellow gold casing and intricate hand engravings on both the front and back. The watch is of the hunting case variety and incorporates 17 jewels and a manual winding mechanism. The white enamel dial showcases elegant black enamel Roman numerals, providing perfect readability. With a diameter of 33mm, this rounded and heavy watch serves as a beautiful addition to any collection or a statement accessory to wear. The pocket watch is in fantastic condition and truly stands out with its timeless design and superior craftsmanship. Creator: American Waltham Watch Co. Case Material: Yellow Gold Case Shape: Round Case Dimensions: Height: 33 mm (1.3 in)Width: 33 mm (1.3 in)Diameter: 10.5 mm (0.42 in) Style: Artisan Place of Origin: United States Period: 20th Century Date of Manufacture: 1900 Condition: Excellent

Historical context

Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)

The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.

The pocket watch reached technical maturity and then began to give way to the wristwatch after the First World War. Complicated watches for collectors such as Henry Graves Jr. and James Ward Packard, railroad watches, and slim Art Deco dress watches are characteristic.

Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution

Atlas type guide

Pocket watches

The pocket watch was the dominant personal timekeeper from the late seventeenth century until the First World War. Its development tracks the history of the escapement: verge watches with fusees until the late eighteenth century; Thomas Mudge's lever escapement (c. 1755) and the cylinder escapement popularised by George Graham and later by Swiss makers; and the Swiss and English lever watches of the nineteenth century. Lépine's bar-bridge calibre and keyless winding made watches thinner and easier to use.

Industrialisation transformed the trade: American factories such as Waltham (from 1850) and Elgin produced interchangeable parts by machine, and Swiss makers responded with their own mechanisation after the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition. By 1900 a reliable watch was affordable to millions; the finest makers continued to produce complications and precision watches.

What to look for

  • The escapement: verge (crown wheel), cylinder, duplex, English or Swiss lever.
  • Key winding (a square arbor in dial or back) or keyless crown winding.
  • Signatures and serial numbers on the movement, dial and inside case back.
  • Hallmarks, case maker's marks and gold or silver standards stamped in the case.
  • Dial material: enamel, silver, gold, later printed metal.

Dating clues

  • Verge watches dominate before c. 1800; cylinder watches c. 1770–1900; lever watches after c. 1820.
  • Keyless winding: increasingly common after c. 1860.
  • Manufacturer serial number lists exist for Waltham, Elgin, Longines, Omega, Patek Philippe and others.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Read next:Verge escapementDetached lever escapementFuseeIdentification Centre

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