Waltham Riverside Maximus Dials

[Jon Miller]

Must a Riverside Maximus pocket watch have the elegant cursive signature with the little curlicues in order to be authentic? I'm looking for a good example of this watch, and some that I have seen just have WALTHAM in simple block letters. What's the deal?

[Jon Miller]

Must a Riverside Maximus pocket watch have the elegant cursive signature with the little curlicues in order to be authentic? I'm looking for a good example of this watch, and some that I have seen just have WALTHAM in simple block letters. What's the deal?

[Jon Hanson]

Correct, original ones have script dials either in Roman or Arabic. Most are DS, although I have had a few SS ones.

Jon Hanson

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Jon Hanson, moderator

[Barry G]

[S]ome that I have seen just have WALTHAM in simple block letters. What's the deal?

Keep in mind that it is very easy to swap dials between different grades of the same model. The "Riverside Maximus" was a particular grade [and a very high one, at that], but dials from other grades will also fit a Riverside Maximus movement. And quite often the dials did get swapped over the years if the original dial got damaged.

But, as Jon points out, the Riverside Maximus grade should have a dial with the word "Waltham" in script letters.

Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection (http://barrygoldberg.net/watches.htm)

[Jon Hanson]

*SWITCHED*, OR UPGRADED TO, SAY, A FANCY OR PERFECT DIAL.

Jon

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Jon Hanson, moderator

[Jerry Treiman]

Jon's mention of fancy dials raises an issue I have wrestled with. Does original mean "as it left the factory" or "as originally purchased"? Not too long ago I got a 12-size Maximus with a low-grade but fancy dial. I also found a contemporary retailer's catalog page (showing my movement) that indicated fancy dials could be had for any of these movements. So my fancy dial Maximus may be as originally sold, but not necessarily as it left the factory. (Or the fancy dial could have been put on it last year). Would replacing the fancy dial with a Maximus dial be an appropriate restoration?

[Jon Hanson]

In my opinion fancy dials on these M. watches were special orders-one could order ANYTHING from the local jeweler and the jeweler could/would easily make the "switch". I believe that these movements were intended to have the original, "script" dials; however, could it be possible that the remaining stock of these "expensive" movements were "dolled up", advertised, and promoted to move out this item?

I also know that many high grade 16s "English" cased Walthams frequently do not have original dials-BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ROOM UNDER THE BEZEL FOR THE DOUBLE SUNK DIAL, ESP. ON HUNTING CASED ONES. Which leads to another question: again, were these left over old stock?

Interesting issue. :smile:

Jon



[This message has been edited by Jon Hanson (edited 10-29-2001).]

[Jon Miller]

Thanks for the informative replies and interesting discussion about the proper Riverside Maximus dial.

So far, I have only collected Swiss pocket watches (specifically IWC), but my brother has a 23j Riverside Maximus that is at least the equal of anything I own, both in construction and accuracy. After a recent service, it has really hit a "sweet spot" and gains and loses only tiny amounts (seconds) in a week. It was his watch that convinced me to try to find one like it.

Incidentally, while his watch is very near "mint," his (correct, original) dial has one unfortunate chip under the bezel. Where might he find a really nice one to replace it? Any good Waltham parts sources that I should know about?