Waltham imposter?

[Jeff Hess]

Sadly, whe Waltham name was sold soon after their demise in the USA. Your watch, while not "fake" is certainly not "Waltham" as we know it. Currently there are at least two persons (maybe more) who own rights to the name "Waltham". One is overseas and seems to be making an honest attempt to bring back the name with fine solid gold timepieces. The other person seems to be making very very inexpensive quartz movemetns and gold plated watches. And I beleive there is yet a third one that makes fashion watches.

[Mike Miller]

As a FYI, I have a "Waltham" almost exactly as you describe. They were made after the demise of American Waltham Watch Company and sold as "an international product by Waltham of Chicago." I still have the small instruction manual that came with the one I have, which was purchased from a department store in 1971. Even though it is not an American Waltham, the Swiss movement is not shabby. I know that mine keeps very good time. I would think that any reputable watch maker could find necessary parts. AWI certified watchmakers can be found through the AWI website <http//awi-net.org> they have a certified referal site.

[Jeff Hess]

As an addendum, the guy who is really into Waltham and who is the GM at Waltham International (unless he has moved on since I last spoketo him 8 months ago) is Claude Girardin. The guy in the USA who is charge of Waltham USA is a guy named Mermelstein I think. The former makes 18k gold pretty high quality Walthams. THe latter makes some pretty low end quartz stuff.

[Wayne C. Anderson]

Jeff,
I have a quartz pocket watch that has "Waltham" on the dial, its about a 16S, and has a blue colored dial in a hunter case. Any idea who would have manufactured this type of pocket watch? Thanks