An Unusual Waltham Dress Watch

[Jerry Treiman]

I thought I would share pictures of one of Waltham's more unusual models. These rectangular dress watches, using a thin 9-ligne movement, were produced between 1914 and 1916 and were sold at some of the finer jewelers, including Tiffany & Co. They are about as tall and as thin as Waltham's Opera Watch, but are obviously narrower. The gold cases are either 14K or 18K gold (green or rose), plain or engine turned, and sometimes include platinum detailing. Some include a cigar cutter, like one shown here on the left. The platinum and green gold example on the right was my last find of 2008. All have a slide on the edge of the case to release the stem into setting position. This patented setting mechanism also appears on some Colonial-A Walthams as well as some wrist and pendant watches from the mid-'teens.

I have been researching these watches for several years and would appreciate hearing from anyone with other examples.

[Dr. Jon]

Very nice. Thanks for posting.