Found Gold Pocket Watch Case

[Foundawatch]

I found a gold pocket watch case today and I was hoping someone could give me some information on it.

While metal detecting a farm that usually turns up coins from the 1800s I dug up a 10K gold pocket watch case. There is one front cover and two back covers with a center stem at 12 o'clock. The inside back cover is marked Premier and there is a serial number of 5001327. The outside back cover is marked 10K.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z41/treasurenet/P4130764.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z41/treasurenet/P4130765.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z41/treasurenet/P4130766.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z41/treasurenet/P4130767.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z41/treasurenet/P4130768.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z41/treasurenet/P4130769.jpg

Thank you for any information you could supply.

[Bill B]

I am pretty sure that Premier is a 25 year gold filled case. I think that it is made by Fahys watch case company. The case looks like a womans 6 size watch case. Someone will be along that has more knowledge to confirm or not what I have written. Hope this helps you.

[Kent]

A Philadelphia Case Catalog (with Movements) (http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/dynaweb/eaa/databases/ephemera/@Generic__BookTextView/39129;nh=1?DwebQuery=Philadelphia#1) (courtesy of Duke University's "Emergence of Advertising in America" website - on the left-hand side of the page, do a search for "watches") lists a Permier grade, on page 6, as being a 5 year gold-filled case.

[Foundawatch]

Thanks for the info. I really like that "emergence of Advertising in America" link. Thanks

Any suggestions on how to track down information from the serial number?

[Jerry Bryant]

The reference below has the Premier pocket watch case listed at the bottom right side of the page excerpt, along with the guaranteed years of wear. This source indicates a guarantee of 25 years for the Premier pocket watch case, and is from page 38 of the book, Complete Price Guide to Watches, by Tom Engle, Richard Gilbert, and Cooksey Shugart.

Jerry

[Foundawatch]

My case just reads 'Premeir' with the serial number of 5001327 under the name which is located on the inside pack cover that would cover the back of the movement. Then the actual back cover has just a 10K stamped inside. No where on the watch does it read Gold Filled, 25 Years so I was wondering is it possible that it is just 10K gold and not gold filled? Any guess on approximate age?

Thanks for the information. It has been fun researching and learning about pocket watches in general.

John

[Jerry Bryant]

There is a "Premier" 18S hunter case in my collection, that I believe would date as being from the late 1880's, or, early 1890's. It does not have any stamping or engraving that would indicate gold quality or content. Plus, the cuvette is the only place where the "Premier" name appears. When you press firmly (albeit using judicious moderation) on the case lids, they "feel" very stiff and firm. This is an unscientific, and, purely layman's method, of "testing" for solid gold. Conversely, if the case lids had "felt" somewhat pliable under the pressure applied by my thumb, then I would have felt confident that my case was solid gold. I have always assumed that this "Premier" 18S hunter case is 10K gold filled, as well as a "25 year" watch case. I'd like to know who manufactured my "Premier" watch case - perhaps Philadelphia Watch Case Co.??, or, perhaps Fahys Watch Case Co.??

Below are two photos of my "Premier" 18S hunter case, SN 155966. It is as close to NOS as anything in my collection.

Jerry
Added information.
Added information.

[Jerry Bryant]

A Philadelphia Case Catalog (with Movements) (http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/dynaweb/eaa/databases/ephemera/@Generic__BookTextView/39129;nh=1?DwebQuery=Philadelphia#1) (courtesy of Duke University's "Emergence of Advertising in America" website - on the left-hand side of the page, do a search for "watches") lists a Permier grade, on page 6, as being a 5 year gold-filled case.

Using the book, "History of the American Watch Case", by Warren H. Niebling (excerpt below), as a reference, I found the actual U.S. Patent Office page that shows the Philadelphia Watch Case Co. "Premier" patent. The registration date of this particular "Premier" trademark patent, is April 25, 1911. This supports Kent's reference to the Philadelphia Case Catalog at the Duke University web site, that this particular trademark design is a 5 year gold filled case.

It would also appear that very possibly, the trademark name, "Premier" may have been used as a trademark by two different case makers, at two different time periods, and under different patents. Hence, the fancy scrollwork around the trademark name on my "Premier" case, versus the plain, straight-lined box around the Phildelphia Watch Case Co. "Premier" trademark version.

Jerry