Keystone Watch Case / Correct Bow?

[W. Pat]

I have a very nice Keystone Watch Case, marked J Boss 10K gold filled. It is yellow gold with the serial #95833344. It has the incorrect bow installed. I am quite sure it's incorrect because it is more of a rose gold. I would like to obtain a original replacement bow for this case. If someone thinks they might be of help they can post a reply here or email me at ppatt42503@juno.com. I do have a digital camera and can forward someone a picture of the case in the next several days if they need one. Thanks for any help!

[W. Pat]

I have a very nice Keystone Watch Case, marked J Boss 10K gold filled. It is yellow gold with the serial #95833344. It has the incorrect bow installed. I am quite sure it's incorrect because it is more of a rose gold. I would like to obtain a original replacement bow for this case. If someone thinks they might be of help they can post a reply here or email me at ppatt42503@juno.com. I do have a digital camera and can forward someone a picture of the case in the next several days if they need one. Thanks for any help!

[Jon Hanson]

Have it plated to match--maybe Doug S., expert on plating, can do it for you?

[Kent]

W. Pat:

Welcome to the NAWCC Pocket Watch Message Board!

The only pocket watch bows that are available from current production are oval bows, or large round bows, both in yellow gold-fill (and also in white metal - which doesn't apply here). The bad news is that these are only appropriate on older (pre-mid 1920s) J. Boss cases. The J. Boss cases from the mid-1920s and newer almost all have unique bows that are no longer available.

If you are only going to carry your watch on rare occasions, Jon's suggestion may be a good one. But, the re-plating won't last in semi-regular use, especially in high-wear locations, such as a bow.

An expensive alternative is to have a new bow cast in solid gold to match the color of the case (most watch cases that collectors refer to as yellow gold filled are actually yellow-white). I had this a couple of years ago and a small quantity of bows in 14 Kt gold cost about $75 each from a local jeweler. You'll need the correct shape bow to use as a pattern.

If you're not sure if you have the correct shape bow on the case, I suggest that you provide a picture (see below for help on this) so that we can express our opinions about it.

Good luck,
Kent

Edited to add picture-posting instructions:

When you click on the Reply button, at the lower right-hand corner of the bottom post in a thread, the Reply To: box that opens has a toolbar at its top. The right-hand icon on the toolbar is a paperclip. Clicking upon the paperclip icon will open a box that allows you to select a picture file to attach to your post. Use the Browse button to navigate to the location in which the picture file resides on your disk drive and select it. Since this only permits one picture per reply, you can reply once for each picture.

[W. Pat]

Jon

Thanks for the reply and suggestion but I don't think it just the wrong color but also the wrong style for the Keystone case in question. I was hoping someone might have a book with pictures of cases that were available from Keystone and match my case to one of them. I am hoping to return it to the original shape if possible.

[Kent]

W. Pat:

I see we answered at the same time.

If you don't have the correct shape bow, perhaps one of us has a brassy bow that is right and which can be used as a pattern. True collectors never throw anything out, especially parts like this.

[Jon Hanson]

Pat,

I have K. watch case books with pictures--you might try xeroxing the case with the bow and mailing it to someone.

The problem with used, worn out bows is that many have lost their tension and a special bow plyers is needed to tighten them; however, a nice, tight snap fit is best as the BP occasionally makes the bow out of round.

[W. Pat]

Keystone case:

[Kent]

A very nice watch! It looks like the gold is worn off of the bow.

A correct looking new yellow gold-filled bow ought to be available from one of the suppliers listed below. You may not find it on their websites, but contact them and ask for a 16-size (it looks like a 16-size watch, is that what it is?) oval yellow gold-filled bow.

DASHTO (http://www.dashto.org/)
Otto Frei (http://www.ofrei.com/index.html)
S. LaRoase (http://www.slarose.com/cgi-bin/slarose/)
Uncle Larry's Watch Shop (http://www.execulink.com/~lfoord/index/parts.htm)

Please let us know if you still have troble finding the bow.

Also, if your watch really is a Santa Fe Special, it properly belongs in a Santa Fe Watch Co. signed-case. There's usually something inside the back like "Santa Fe Watch Compay guarantees this case to be made of two plates of gold ...."

Good luck,
Kent

[W. Pat]

I have found the correct type bow on a Keystone white gold filled case. I am holding out to find the same to put on my yellow gold filled case. Anyone having one they would be willing to part with to restore my case to original please contact me at ppatt42503@juno.com. Image is attached: