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View Full Version : What's your pick for prettiest movement

crsides
08-30-2002, 06:17 PM
Forget the maker, forget the jewel count -
what do you consider the prettiest movement.
crsides
08-30-2002, 06:17 PM
Forget the maker, forget the jewel count -
what do you consider the prettiest movement.
abereiter
08-30-2002, 06:32 PM
Probably not a popular choice but, 950b. Or my 18s 23j Veritis.

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Aaron Bereiter
NAWCC #156432
xylo
08-30-2002, 08:08 PM
One can hardly beat clean, bright and well damaskened 18 size Walthams, starting with the 1883's, followed by the model 1892 Vanguard and the 1892 Crescent Street.
Lindell V. Riddle
08-30-2002, 09:35 PM
To me beauty is defined by a pristine South-Bend grade 295, but how about fish-scale damaskeened early Bunn Specials, and I must bring up the Rockford 900 with that giant eye-ball shaped slab of solid gold around jewel number 24 and the oh-so-cool "RG" just to the right of it! Lets fact it, all those mentioned are great, there is not just one and that's why we collect a bit of quantity as well as accentuating the quality!

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Lindell V. Riddle
NAWCC Life Member# 253-150074
Member Chapters 10, 28, 37 and NAWCC-***

<southbend@adelphia.net>


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Tom McIntyre
08-31-2002, 02:19 AM
I think it is hard to beat the Waltham 1872 model American Grade although some examples of the Elgin 21J convertible come close. This 72 with the runic dial is probably my favorite right now.

http://www.awco.org/AWCo/American/Hewett72/movement_small.jpg (http://www.awco.org/AWCo/American/Hewett72/movement.jpg) http://www.awco.org/AWCo/American/Hewett72/dial_small.jpg (http://www.awco.org/AWCo/American/Hewett72/dial.jpg)

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Tom McIntyre
Nice Person
Tommy the JOAT's Web (http://www.AWCo.org)

[This message has been edited by Tom McIntyre (edited 08-31-2002).]
Barry G
08-31-2002, 04:12 AM
Hmmmm....

It's a toss-up between the Waltham Model #1892 2-tone "P.S. Bartlett" and the Model #1888 2-tone "Riverside":

http://barrygoldberg.net/watches/watch4d.jpg

http://barrygoldberg.net/watches/watch54e.jpg

Regards,

Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection (http://barrygoldberg.net/watches.htm)
Spike
08-31-2002, 04:33 AM
Movements with top plates whose writing looks like handwriting (script, cursive) rather than print look classiest to me. Cursive may not always have been hand-engraved but it generally looks hand-engraved. 18s full plate movements, presumably because they have the most space (and perhaps also because they?re older) seem to have the most and largest and prettiest cursive.
Jerry Freedman
08-31-2002, 05:37 AM
I would go with a tie between my Elgin 162 and my two tone Illinois 179.
Charles Medsker
08-31-2002, 07:06 AM
I'd have to say the Waltham 1908 Model 23J Riverside Maximus for 16-Size, and for 18-Size, the South Bend 21J "The Studebaker." JMO. Guys & Gals, thanks for the images.
John Cote
08-31-2002, 09:41 AM
I would hate to pick an absolute favorite, but I would agree with Tom that it is hard to beat a Waltham 19-21 jewel Mod. 72 American grades, or any of the Nashua Dept watches. I guess if you want to go all out the Stone Mountain version might be the tops.

I also like Jerry's choices, so here is a picture of one of the favorites of my collection, the Elgin 162. This model and the 21 jewel 3FB convertable are hard to beat.

http://www.interstatetime.com/Posts/images/Elgin162Mvt.jpg



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JohnCote
President, Indiana Chapter 18 - NAWCC
Member Chapter 149 (Member #105)
http://www.interstatetime.com
Tom McIntyre
08-31-2002, 10:37 AM
Of course if we don't have to own our favorite, I might pick this one.

http://www.awco.org/MWCo/McIntyreWatch/McIntyreMasterMovement2_small.jpg (http://www.awco.org/MWCo/McIntyreWatch/McIntyreMasterMovement2.jpg) http://www.awco.org/MWCo/McIntyreWatch/McIntyreMasterFront_small.jpg (http://www.awco.org/MWCo/McIntyreWatch/McIntyreMasterFront.jpg)

The pattern on these plates is lightly engraved, not damaskeened and the MWCo logo is a gold inlay.

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Tom McIntyre
NAWCC 2nd VP Candidate
Tommy the JOAT's Web (http://www.AWCo.org)
Jon Hanson
08-31-2002, 10:54 AM
Pretty, meaning-color, damaskeening, engraving, finish, design, etc., etc.?

For quality, finish, workmanship-the 1872 is my favorite (the 21 jewelers, not the 18 jewelers, John). For color, how about those 18s Illinois? For pizazz, '08 Riverside Maximus?

Others of mention: the 88 Walthams, the 3/4 plate Elgin converts, certain Rockfords?

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Jon Hanson, nawcc#8801
Kim Hill
08-31-2002, 12:25 PM
Gruen Anniversary.
Tom McIntyre
08-31-2002, 01:27 PM
I do like the Gruen 50th, but my favorite of the gold colored watches is the Edward Howard. :smile:

http://www.awco.org/EHowardWatch/EdwardHoward/Movement_small.jpg (http://www.awco.org/EHowardWatch/EdwardHoward/Movement.jpg)

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Tom McIntyre
NAWCC 2nd VP Candidate
Tommy the JOAT's Web (http://www.AWCo.org)
Ball992B
08-31-2002, 01:49 PM
Hands down Hamilton Hayden W. Wheeler
Steven Mercer
08-31-2002, 02:41 PM
Waltham model '83, "FROSTY" has my vote.

Steve
Russ Snyder
08-31-2002, 05:06 PM
Frankly, I'm rather fond of this somewhat unpretentious 8-size Illinois. It's is one of 10 that were made just like the watch John Whitfield Bunn carried. Clean lines, just the right amount of gold, and a variety of damaskeening patterns, all in a small pocket watch.



http://pallus.cic.uiuc.edu/db2ksite/520618-mvt.jpg

<IMG

Russ

P.S. This is the first time I've attempted to post a picture INSIDE a message, so if it doesn't work, I'll repost and simply supply the link.
Russ Snyder
08-31-2002, 05:07 PM
I need to read the instructions again!

Here's the link.
http://pallus.cic.uiuc.edu/db2ksite/520618-mvt.jpg

Russ
Jon Hanson
08-31-2002, 05:09 PM
Russ,

Grade and serial number-I can't read it!

Jon

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Jon Hanson, nawcc#8801
Russ Snyder
08-31-2002, 05:16 PM
Jon et al.,

Grade "154" Model "2" s/n 520,618. Mine, unfortunately, if the 17-jewel version. Mr. Bunn had his up-jeweled to an 18j model. But he had more "pull" with the Company than I do!

Russ
John Cote
08-31-2002, 05:27 PM
Great watch Russ. I have never seen one. Jon posted a great 8 size about a year or 2 ago, but it was a different pattern.

Anyway, thanks for the post.

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JohnCote
President, Indiana Chapter 18 - NAWCC
Member Chapter 149 (Member #105)
http://www.interstatetime.com
Greg Frauenhoff
08-31-2002, 05:28 PM
Russ,

That's a great little watch. Thanks for the pic.

Greg
Steve Beck
08-31-2002, 05:29 PM
Waltham Model 1899 23 Jewel Riverside Maximus

It has no gold plates or ruby jewels but the damaskeening is incredible. Brighter by far than any other watch I have ever seen. It does have double diamond End Stones. Also white saphire palate Stones.
Jon Hanson
08-31-2002, 05:48 PM
Fabulous watch-is it your very favorite? Thanks so much for scanning it! How wonderful it is to have the opportunity to view this one!

Jon

PS Pretty good, eh boys?

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Jon Hanson, nawcc#8801
lots of time
08-31-2002, 08:05 PM
Well, I was going to say the higher grade 83 and 92 walthams but that watch that Russ posted takes the cake!! Absolutely beautiful!!!
Steve Beck
09-01-2002, 04:34 AM
I agree
Barry G
09-01-2002, 05:41 AM
Steve,

You mean like this one:

http://barrygoldberg.net/watches/watch56e.jpg

:wink:

Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection (http://barrygoldberg.net/watches.htm)
Steve Beck
09-01-2002, 06:45 AM
Barry, Yes mine is a bit later. SN 125093XX
It is a hunting case model. The Movement looks to be very similar.

I apologise for not posting a pic. I haven't found a digital camera with a macro lens I like yet.
Kim Hill
09-01-2002, 07:42 AM
Beautiful watch, Russ. Thank you for posting.
Greg Frauenhoff
09-01-2002, 09:00 AM
It's only a lowly 15 jewel movement, but it's my favorite.
http://members.aol.com/gfrauen/twotone.jpg

Greg
John Cote
09-01-2002, 10:50 AM
Wow! I kinda like that one too Greg.

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JohnCote
President, Indiana Chapter 18 - NAWCC
Member Chapter 149 (Member #105)
http://www.interstatetime.com
lots of time
09-01-2002, 11:34 AM
I have never seen one like that before Greg, very nice indeed!! Wow!! I love this thread!!
crsides
09-01-2002, 11:36 AM
Well, this has been delightful. I was practicing with a borrowed digit camera on some 18s ILL's and noticed in the final pics how much prettier the lower jewel count tu tone 17j & 21j were than the 24j bright spotted.

I also had seen a striking movement on a 15j South Bend 331 that sold for $87 on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=950851701

You guys have opened my eyes. The surprises were Russ's 8s and the Elgin 162. Both are gorgeous. The 88 2 tone Riverside and Greg's Aurora make it a 4 way tie for first place. Guess I'm going to have to expand me ebay search list.

Keep'em coming.

Charlie
Barry G
09-01-2002, 04:42 PM
Do they have to be American watches? I've always been partial to the so-called "Chinese Duplex" watches made in Switzerland in the late 1800s:


http://barrygoldberg.net/watches/watch22e.jpg

Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection (http://barrygoldberg.net/watches.htm)
Kim Hill
09-02-2002, 06:37 AM
Wow! Thanks all - the pix are neat as are the beautiful movements. Our hobby/passion is so cool and rewarding!
jim88
09-02-2002, 02:32 PM
This is a tough question because there are so many I like it's really like a 25 way tie. But, if I had to pick just one (from my collection) it would be the 16s Illinois grade 187, Getty model, 17j fully marked. The design of the movement along with its high quality gives it an edge. Jim.
Kent
09-02-2002, 05:19 PM
It was love at first sight when I came across this Seth Thomas No. 382

http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/st382.jpg

Kent