Waltham Riverside

[instantinlaw]

Hi,

I'm so glad I found this website. I was able to find out quite a bit about my pocket watch.

Here's the info: Waltham Riverside - SN: 22028292 Material: P - Jewels: 19 - Balance: Breguet hairspring - Style: OF.

But I would like to find out a little more about the watch if anyone can help.

According to the info on this site and according to the SN of the watch, it's a Model: 1892 correct?

The case is 18K and is marked Waltham Colonial 18K 750/1000 Fine & is also marked with a serial number. The back of the case opens in 2 parts on a hinge. I believe the watch is also a Colional.

I have no intentions of selling this watch, but while researching it I did check feebay and I didn't see any Walthams in original marked gold Waltham cases.

So my second question is: Is it rare to have an original 18K Waltham Colonial case with with a Colonial watch?

Thanks for any help.

[Jerry Treiman]

I'm not sure where you looked up your watch, but it is not an 1892 model. You have a very fine, thin dress watch designated by Waltham as their Colonial-A model. These were relatively expensive watches that were cased at the factory in gold (14K or 18K) or platinum. The higher quality cases are less common. You can learn a little more about these watches in this past discussion -
http://www.mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php?t=41341

[Kent]

Hi instantinlaw:

Welcome to the NAWCC American Pocket Watch Message Board!

You can find out some basic facts about your Waltham watch by entering the serial number on the movement (the "works") in the field on the Serial Number link accessable from the NAWCC Information Storage (http://www.nawcc-info.org/WalthamDB/walsernum.htm) website. Don't use any commas in entering the serial number.

There is also a Glossary (http://www.nawcc-info.org/WalthamDB/Glossary.htm) of the terms provided by the serial number lookup. Note: When a number appears by itself in the Comment Column, it is the page in the factory serial list where the entry and explanation appeared. i.e. "Comment 42" is on page 42 of Serial Numbers With Description of Waltham Watch Movements, Waltham Watch Co., Waltham, MA, 1954, (commonly referred to as "The Gray Book").

Should the date not be listed in the search of the NAWCC Information Storage - Waltham Serial Number Data Base, Oldwatch.com's Waltham Production Date Chart (http://www.oldwatch.com/walthamdate.html), or the Pocket Watch Site's Waltham Date Table (http://www.pocketwatchsite.com/walthamserials.html) are a means for determining the approximate production date. In general, we think of serial number vs. date lists - created by using the average number of watches produced over a period of years - to only be accurate within a year or two at best, and recognize that there are numerous exceptions wherein which the dates may be off as much as 3 years or more. This is not just for Waltham, but for other watch manufacturers as well.

Looking your watch (movement serial number 22,028,292) up in the above mentioned references, it can be seen to be as you found it, except I don't see where you got the idea that it is a model 1892 (which is a large, 18-size watch). It was built in about 1919.

Not having pictures of your watch and not being familiar with the Waltham Colonial series, the best I can suggest is that you take a look at pages 8 & 9 of the 1926 Waltham Sales Catalog (http://www.elginwatches.com/scans/sales_catalogs/1926_Waltham/m_index.html) and see if the watch pictured looks like your watch. I wouldn't say that the original gold cased watch is rare, but a lot of movements are floating around loose now because the case was scrapped out for the gold.

I see Jerry provided even better information while I was typing.

Good luck,

[instantinlaw]

I'm not sure where you looked up your watch, but it is not an 1892 model. You have a very fine, thin dress watch designated by Waltham as their Colonial-A model. These were relatively expensive watches that were cased at the factory in gold (14K or 18K) or platinum. The higher quality cases are less common. You can learn a little more about these watches in this past discussion -
http://www.mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php?t=41341
Hi Jerry,

Thanks for the info. I got my research from this site
http://www.nawcc-info.org/WalthamDB/LookupSN.asp
&
http://www.nawcc-info.org/WalthamDB/Glossary.htm

I was assuming the last 2 numbers in the SN were the model #

Model: refers to the overall design of the watch movement. Waltham's model numbers generally correspond to the year in which the watch was designed or first introduced (e.g., "77" refers to the "Model 1877," which was first introduced in 1877; "83" refers to the"Model 1883," which was first introduced in that year, etc.).

If not, where can I find the model #?

Thanks

[instantinlaw]

Hi instantinlaw:

Welcome to the NAWCC American Pocket Watch Message Board!

You can find out some basic facts about your Waltham watch by entering the serial number on the movement (the "works") in the field on the Serial Number link accessable from the NAWCC Information Storage (http://www.nawcc-info.org/WalthamDB/walsernum.htm) website. Don't use any commas in entering the serial number.

There is also a Glossary (http://www.nawcc-info.org/WalthamDB/Glossary.htm) of the terms provided by the serial number lookup. Note: When a number appears by itself in the Comment Column, it is the page in the factory serial list where the entry and explanation appeared. i.e. "Comment 42" is on page 42 of Serial Numbers With Description of Waltham Watch Movements, Waltham Watch Co., Waltham, MA, 1954, (commonly referred to as "The Gray Book").

Should the date not be listed in the search of the NAWCC Information Storage - Waltham Serial Number Data Base, Oldwatch.com's Waltham Production Date Chart (http://www.oldwatch.com/walthamdate.html), or the Pocket Watch Site's Waltham Date Table (http://www.pocketwatchsite.com/walthamserials.html) are a means for determining the approximate production date. In general, we think of serial number vs. date lists - created by using the average number of watches produced over a period of years - to only be accurate within a year or two at best, and recognize that there are numerous exceptions wherein which the dates may be off as much as 3 years or more. This is not just for Waltham, but for other watch manufacturers as well.

Looking your watch (movement serial number 22,028,292) up in the above mentioned references, it can be seen to be as you found it, except I don't see where you got the idea that it is a model 1892 (which is a large, 18-size watch). It was built in about 1919.

Not having pictures of your watch and not being familiar with the Waltham Colonial series, the best I can suggest is that you take a look at pages 8 & 9 of the 1926 Waltham Sales Catalog (http://www.elginwatches.com/scans/sales_catalogs/1926_Waltham/m_index.html) and see if the watch pictured looks like your watch. I wouldn't say that the original gold cased watch is rare, but a lot of movements are floating around loose now because the case was scrapped out for the gold.

I see Jerry provided even better information while I was typing.

Good luck,

Hi Kent,
Thanks for your info as well.
I'll see if I can post some images today.

[Tom McIntyre]

The database does not record the model for the run with your serial number. That is why the box for model is empty.

Many updates are needed for the later production runs and we will hopefully be able to get to them later this year.