RARE 15ct Rose Gold WALTHAM Pocket Watch & orig. 15ct rose gold chain in old box

Description: ANTIQUE WALTHAM RIVERSIDE POCKET WATCH IN ENGLISH 15CT ROSE GOLD CASE & ORIGINAL 15CT CHAIN This is an extra special antique 15ct rose gold pocket or fob watch which still retains the original 15ct rose gold fob watch chain or ‘Albert’ as they are often called. This is for Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s consort who is credited for starting the craze of wearing your pocket watch and chain as a fashion statement. Both the watch and the chain have been created in glorious 15ct Rose Gold. In my opinion no other gold grade produces the same colour or has the same buttery feel to it as 15ct gold (not even 18ct!) and it is by far my favourite gold grade. The watch case was made by the Dennison Watch Case Co. Stamped inside back cover: 15 625 (gold grade,rubbed) Anchor (for Birmingham)n (1912, rubbed and hard to read) A.L.D. (sponser’s mark required for English hallmarking) 42410 (case number presumably) Stamped inside dust cover: DENNISON WATCH CASE CO A.L.D. 15ct .625 42410 The stem or crown is stamped A.L.D. on one side and 15 .625 on the other. The watch movement in this case is a Waltham of Massachusetts (see below Dimensions for a short history of this company) and is one of their ‘standard bearer’ grades known as ‘Riverside’ which they were very proud of and produced in multiple sizes and jewel standards. This one has 19 jewels, is a size 12 and is model #1894 from my research. Crown/stem wind and set at 12 o’clock position and seconds subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock for easy reading. The large ribbed crown makes it very easy to wind and pull out to set the time. White enamel face has black Roman numerals, gold hands and is signed Waltham The movement is decorated with damascening and is signed: 19 Jewels. “A.W.W.Co., Waltham, Mass. Riverside. Adjusted (and date serial number) 19006281 Still attached to this lovely open faced pocket watch is what we know to be the original 15ct rose gold Albert or watch chain (family piece so we have verbal provenance on it). This Albert chain is also stamped for Birmingham and makers mark M & M for Manton & Mole (of Birmingham) well known for making watch chains (see below Dimensions for a short history of this jeweller). The chain is stamped on every link 15c and .625 including the smaller joining O rings etc. It retains all its original fittings including the T-bar stamped M & M, 15c, .625 anchor, a bolt ring stamped 15c and the lobster clasp or dog clip also stamped 15c .625 and M & M. No date mark on the chain but this is not unusual. We have just had this beautiful antique open-faced pocket watch FULLY SERVICED (August 2024) by a Rolex trained watchmaker with decades of experience and who is used by many watch collectors and dealers in Sydney. It is quietly ticking away nicely and keeping excellent time (gauged over a few hours at a time) but of course can be adjusted with the Fast Slow lever inside when required. It will come in the well used but still attractive antique Casecraft box which I personally used for many years for jewellery display in our shops. It is not quite as old as the watch and chain but close enough and I think makes a nice presentation. This is a family watch and chain passed down through the generations but alas the last owner didn’t have anyone to pass it onto and so the next best thing is for this pair of rare survivors be passedonto someone who understands the importanceand quality of this pair or a breathtaking start for a new pocket watch collection – what a starter this pair would be! CONDITION The watch chain is in excellent antique condition with little if any wear to the links and all the fittings work like new. The watch was FULLY SERVICED in August 2024 by a Rolex trained watchmaker with decades of experience and who is used by many watch collectors and dealers in Sydney. It is quietly ticking away nicely and keeping excellent time (gauged over a several hours at a time) but of course can be adjusted with the Fast Slow lever inside when required. NO engraved initials or presentation inscriptions etc. General consensus is this watch has had very little use. The watchmaker who serviced it said the movement was in excellent condition just very dry, as if it hadn’t been touched for many years. The condition implies it has had minimal use by the original owner/s and then put in a drawer a very long time ago and left there. The only thing that shows ‘wear’ is the rubbed hallmarks inside the back covers that look as if they have been zealously polished one too many times – see photos. The hinges are all in excellent condition. The engine turned case has one small ding that isn’t obvious from the outside but more so on the plain gold face inside. Not a huge indentation but has to be mentioned. The white enamel dial is as spotless today as when it was made over 100 years ago. There is a scratch in the glass running roughly from the 6 position half way between 7 and 8. Not obvious and doesn’t detract but must be mentioned for accuracy of description. DIMENSIONS The watch case measures approximately: 4.5cm (1 ¾ ") wide 6cm (2 3/8") high from top to bottom It weighs: 65.7 grams The chain measures approx: 28cm (11 inches) long It weighs: 25.3 grams of solid 15ct gold Total 91.0 grams ~~~~~~~~~ WALTHAM The American Watch Company at Waltham, Massachusetts more commonly referred to as Waltham. In the later 1800s Waltham, a well established and trusted American watch movement manufacturer produced movements in large numbers with automated machinery- more than the American market could handle and certainly far more than watch cases to house them could be produced by hand to keep up with their production. As a result the Dennison Watch Case Co was eventually born – see below. Dennison Watch Case Co. Has a long and complicated history, starting in America and ending up in Britain. Too convoluted to explain here but below is part of letter written in 1912 by one of the founder’s daughter who wanted to set the record straight: ‘In 1873 the American Watch Company of Waltham, generally referred to as Waltham for short, established a branch office in Britain. Aaron Dennison's son Edward Boardman was hired and eventually became Assistant Manager. The British company imported movements made by the American parent company and cased them for sale in Britain. The Waltham company produced watch movements using automatic machines which could churn out far more movements than could be sold in America, so the company began exporting movements to generate another income stream. Case making was not mechanised and Waltham was desperate to find a company in Britain that could make the large numbers of cases required. Not finding any existing company that could take on the work, Waltham encouraged Aaron Dennison to set up a factory to make cases.’ Dennison Watch Case Co. became one of the most prolific watch case makers of their time, making cases for various watch companies including Waltham. MANTON & MOLE Jewellers (Info from Wilson 55 Auctioneers and Valuers) MANTON & MOLE were manufacturing jewellers, operating from Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter from the late 19th century. Founded and run by James Woodward and Wilfred B Mole from around 1860 into the 1920s, this company was responsible for the creation of rings, cufflinks and Albert chains, as well as larger gold pieces such as vesta cases, cigar cases and sovereign cases. Much of their impact on the Jewellery Quarter can be seen in the present day, with their former 1882 factory in Aquinas House acting as a hub of the quarter today. Pieces by Manton & Mole sell very well at auction, owing largely to the quality and workmanship of the pieces. Snake rings, decorative band rings, Vesta cases and cufflinks continue to entice bidders and exceed auction estimates as good solid examples of late Victorian and early 20th century jewellery design. >>>>>>1904<<<<<< We guarantee our descriptions are accurate and our prices competitive. Please bear in mind that all our items are antique or vintage and may have some age related issues. If you like your item please leave us feedback and we will respond immediately. 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Price: 6795 AUD

Location: Morisset

End Time: 2024-11-17T20:53:56.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 AUD