A few American ladies watches

[Rick Hufnagel]

I was going through my wristwatch box and decided to take some pictures of these and share. Maybe some others enjoy similar watches and can add to the thread.

I'm attracted to these and have accumulated three so far over the course of a few years. Nothing rare or high grade, just some nicely preserved pieces. There's no way it would ever look good on my wrist, but they look great in the display box!

The first one added was a Waltham. It's a grade 461, 10 line, 7 jewel movement and looks to be from the early 20's. The movement was unknown untill it was in hand. The case is a 25 year, white gold filled Wadsworth.


The next one is an Elgin. 10/0 size, grade 444 Nameless. (Some are Lady Elgin). This is a bit nicer movement with 15 jewels. Lives in a very pretty Dueber 14k white gold filled case.


The last one is my favorite, and I actually searched for this specific watch. This is a Hampden "Josephine". It is 8/0 sized and 7 jewels. Gorgeous dial and hands, and equally stunning case by Dueber. 14k white gold filled.




The Hampden will probably get a leather strap because it's a little bigger than the other two. I'd like to find a ribbon for the Elgin.

It would be great to see and discover other 1920ish watches. If anyone has an interest please post! Have a good day!

 

[Jerry Treiman]

Thanks for bringing up this topic, Rick. These small ladies watches had some lovely cases. Here are three of mine.


The two larger ones have 10-ligne movements in 14K white gold Solidarity cases. The small one has a 7-1/2 ligne movement in a neat little 2-piece gold case by Louis Lewitt, patented in 1921.


The watches in the upper left and bottom are interesting in having movements originally finished for Tiffany & Co., but the movements were later modified to read "TIERANY & COX". I have seen this modification on a number of Walthams for Tiffany and suspect they were surplussed and could no longer show the original name. The enameled case holds a 10-ligne Maximus.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

Wow, Jerry!

Wonderful pieces and thank you!

 

[MrRoundel]

I like the little beauties too. All Walthams here. The two cushion shapes I have had for many years. The other, with what Waltham called their "Brocaded" dial, I picked up last year. One of the cushion styles is in a 18k white gold case and has like a gold-wash on the bezel. It houses a L-10/10 ligne Maximus movement.

I always love when they still have their silk bands intact, complete with the buckles, of which I only have the one. Cheers.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

Ok thought I found a good movement with the Elgin, and here you both come with 10 ligne Maximus! Very nice.

The Brocaded dial is great, thank you.

 

[MrRoundel]

Thanks, Rick. That watch with the "Brocaded" dial is very minty overall. I was under the impression that there were more 10L Maximus grade than turned out to be the case. Apparently there were only around 5,500 made. I'd say that makes them uncommon to scarce.The one I have is probably in the same run as Jerry's, as the serial is less than 200 away from his. They are out there though.

Oh, and those little 7 1/2 ligne models are really neat. The one I have is nekked as a jaybird, and needs a staff. As you may be aware, they share a lot of the same parts with the 5 1/4 ligne rectangular. Those little marvels were crazy expensive back when they were being sold. I also have a nekked 5 1/4L nekked movement that also needs a staff, but I'm leaving it alone for now. So tiny...It really makes one appreciate the advent of shock devices on staffs, as they don't bust pivots anwhwhere near as often as old-style conventional. Cheers.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

... Oh, and those little 7 1/2 ligne models are really neat. [ ... ] As you may be aware, they share a lot of the same parts with the 5 1/4 ligne rectangular. Those little marvels were crazy expensive back when they were being sold.

In 1923 the 7-1/2 ligne round movement cost $150 and the 5-1/4 ligne rectangular movement cost $170. Then you had to add the cost of the custom case (gold or platinum). At the same time the most expensive pocket watch movement was the 12-size Riverside Maximus for only $110. There were 8100 of the round movements made and 4000 of the rectangulars. I have seen them in cases by Depollier, Matalene, AWCCo, Katz & Ogush and Lewitt.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

Here is a more extreme example of how the 5-1/4 ligne rectangular movement might be cased. The full-page ad is from 1921 and the copywriter got the size of this then-new movement wrong.