Waltham Nickel Silver Very Early Wrist Watch with Original Dial from 1897

FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tank Style METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold-Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1926 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 41mm X Width 27mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 7 Jewels / Caliber 2-ot DIAL / HANDS: Original Patinated with Luminous Arabic Numerals / Original Blued Steel Luminous Hands ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Leather, 17mm / Regular Length WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement This is a "vault find" watch, it has been locked up for nearly 50 years, which means it needs a service. We will give it a factory quality service by our finest watchmaker as part of the purchase price before it is shipped out to you. This will delay shipping for a few days of course. LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This is a rare watch by the legendary house of Waltham, from Waltham Massachusetts. It is all original including the factory crown. The case is entirely hand made and deeply hand engraved as well. We have only seen a few examples of this model in the last 50 years. It is fitted with what appears to be an original early strap and original period buckle as well. The strap is to fragile to wear every day however, so we have also fitted it with an appropriate hand made lizard strap and the original buckle. Waltham Watch Company History The Waltham Watch Company was an American watch manufacturing house founded in 1850 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. It was the first American company to mass-produce watches using interchangeable parts. The company's watches were known for their quality and affordability, and they quickly became popular with consumers. Waltham played a major role in the development of the American watch industry as well as establishing the concept of “mass produced” products. By the way, Henry Ford was a watchmaker, and he was inspired to build cars the same way Waltham Watches were produced, for the masses with interchangeable parts. Waltham’s success helped to make the United States a major player in the global watch market as well as promote the idea of “industrialization.” Before the Waltham Watch Company, watches were generally produced by hand, in “cottage” industries. They were owned by the wealthier class or the “working class” that needed to know the time. The company's affordable watches made them accessible to a wider range of people and helped to change the way people thought about time. Prior to this, people used their local Church bells to direct them in their daily lives. The Company continued to grow and prosper throughout the 19th century. During the American Civil War, they supplied watches to the military, and of course they grew because of this association. In 1885, they moved their headquarters to Waltham, Massachusetts, and changed their name to the American Waltham Watch Company. Waltham was a major exhibitor at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The company's exhibit at the exposition was housed in a large pavilion that was designed to resemble a factory. The pavilion was filled with watches of all shapes and sizes, as well as machinery used in the manufacturing process. The exhibit was a major success, and it helped to raise the profile of Waltham watches around the world. Amongst the visitors at the exhibition was a contingent from Switzerland. When they realized what Waltham was doing, they quickly understood that their methods were outdated and soon enough they would be a country unable to compete. They also went to the Waltham factory for a visit after the exhibition. It is said that they purchased a few of Waltham’s higher grade movements. The director of the factory said he would have them “adjusted” before they left, but they said it was not necessary. When they arrived back in Switzerland, they checked them and were shocked at the level of quality and accuracy. This prompted them to buy some of the equipment that Waltham was using so they could start building better watches that were less expensive and more accurate. Some of that machinery ended up in the small town of Schaffhausen and became The International Watch Company. They are still in business today making exceptional watches. The military, for any nation, is a powerful source of revenue for industrial contracts. So, any industry would prosper during war and Waltham continued to be a supplier to the military for over 100 years. Through WW 1...

FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold-Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 37mm X Width 28mm MOVEMENT / CA...

FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art deco / Tonneau Shape METAL / MATERIAL: Gold Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1934 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 41mm X Width 24mm MOVEME...

FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Military Campaign Style METAL / MATERIAL: 14kt Solid Gold CIRCA YEAR: 1910 DIMENSIONS: 30mm X 28mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 15 Jewels DIAL / HANDS: Original Silvered with Arabic Luminous Numerals / Blued Steel Luminous Hands ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Alligator 14mm / Regular Length WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement. This classic American Military Style watch is actually 110 years old and can still be worn all the time and counted on. The watch and case are entirely hand constructed. The movement, beautifully finished has jewels set into bushings and beautifully damascened plates...

FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Round / Campaign Style METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt Solid Yellow Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1929 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 38mm X Diameter 31mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 15 Jewels / Caliber 3/0 DIAL / HANDS: Original Kiln Fired with Luminous Arabic Numerals / Original Blued Steel Luminous Hands ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Leather, 14mm / Regular Length WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT Just around the corner from the global stock market crash, this watch came to be. What a great and original Waltham Watch this is. We seldom see watches from this era in such fine condition. Imagine navigating your modern day with a nearly 100 year old device (I wear a watch from 1919 every day and it always gets me there on time). This piece is fitted with a solid gold case by America's finest case maker, Depollier. They made custom cases for all the finest American watch companies, including those renowned Swiss houses imported to America. The watch is also fitted with its original and flawless Kiln Fired Enamel Dial and it still has its original Blued Steel Luminous Hands as well. Lastly, it appears to have its original crown as well. The watch keeps dependable time and can be worn all the time as well. You will likely never see another truly vintage American Watch in finer condition than this one. Through the American civil war and two World Wars, and beyond, Waltham's legacy and spirit lives on in this wonderful vintage watch. It is truly a representation of the idea of American Exceptionalism. The wonderfully crafted design is timeless. Even after 100 years or more, this watch can dependably be worn, used and counted on to get you there on time, every time. It is versatile enough to be worn for all types of occasions and various clothes. Wear it with a suit or even for more casual occasions but, certainly, feel confident that you are wearing a piece of history. The Waltham Watch Company was an American watch manufacturing house founded in 1850 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. It was the first American company to mass-produce watches using interchangeable parts. The company's watches were known for their quality and affordability, and they quickly became popular with consumers. Waltham played a major role in the development of the American watch industry as well as establishing the concept of “mass produced” products. By the way, Henry Ford was a watchmaker, and he was inspired to build cars the same way Waltham Watches were produced, for the masses with interchangeable parts. Waltham’s success helped to make the United States a major player in the global watch market as well as promote the idea of “industrialization.” Before the Waltham Watch Company, watches were generally produced by hand, in “cottage” industries. They were owned by the wealthier class or the “working class” that needed to know the time. The company's affordable watches made them accessible to a wider range of people and helped to change the way people thought about time. Prior to this, people used their local Church bells to direct them in their daily lives. The Company continued to grow and prosper throughout the 19th century. During the American Civil War, they supplied watches to the military, and of course they grew because of this association. In 1885, they moved their headquarters to Waltham, Massachusetts, and changed their name to the American Waltham Watch Company. Waltham was a major exhibitor at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The company's exhibit at the exposition was housed in a large pavilion that was designed to resemble a factory. The pavilion was filled with watches of all shapes and sizes, as well as machinery used in the manufacturing process. The exhibit was a major success, and it helped to raise the profile of Waltham watches around the world. Amongst the visitors at the exhibition was a contingent from Switzerland. When they realized what Waltham was doing, they quickly understood that their methods were outdated and soon enough they would be a country unable to compete. They also went to the Waltham factory for a visit after the exhibition. It is said that they purchased a few of Waltham’s higher grade movements. The director of factory said he would have them “adjusted” before they left, but they said, it was not necessary. When they arrived back in Switzerland, they checked them and were shocked at the level of quality and accuracy. This prompted them to buy some of the equipment that Waltham was using so they could start building better watches that were less expensive and more accurate. Some of that machinery ended up in the small town of Schaffhausen and became The International Watch Company. They are still in business today making exceptional watches. The military, for any nation, is a powerful source of revenue for industrial contracts. So, any industry would prosper during war and Waltham continued to be a supplier to the military for over 100 years. Through WW 1...

FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Open Faced Pocket Watch METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt. Yellow Gold Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1897 DIMENSIONS / ...

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