philadelphia watch case company serial numbers

Below 15 jewels is considered a lower-grade watch. The higher the quality of the watch mechanism, the more jewels it will have. The term ‘jewels’ refers to the industrial grade gemstones used as bearings in the watch mechanism, which prevent friction and wear of the watch mechanism. The number of jewels a pocket watch tends to determine quality and the usual rule of thumb is the higher the number of jewels the more valuable the watch.In order to establish watch value, you will need to first identify the model, grade, age, size and quality. Gather as much information as possible.Source: PxHere Factors to take into account when valuing your Waltham pocket watch Read some more on the history of railroad watches here. Have a maximum variation of 30 seconds per weekly checkīe aware if you are purchasing a railroad grade watch that some will be described as railway grade when in fact they aren’t.Have bold legible Arabic numerals on the dial.

Have an open face case, with the stem at 12 o’clock.

To qualify as railroad standard, watches were required to meet the following criteria: Railroad grade watchesįollowing the great train disaster in America in 1891 (the tragedy occurred due to a faulty timepiece), Waltham (and a number of other watch brands, such as Elgin and Hamilton) produced watches to a new set of standards. It was one of the most prolific American watch companies and by the early 1870s Waltham watches were winning prizes all over the world. In operation between 18, over 40 million fine specimens of pocket watches, wrist watches, clocks and other precision instruments were produced by the Waltham factory. Prior to this, all watches produced in America were handmade. In 1849 Aaron Lufkin Dennison, Edward Howard and David Davis formed a company with a plan to develop machinery that could mass produce watch movement parts with precision and render them interchangeable. Source: Wikimedia Commons The American Waltham Watch Co. Of course, the only way to know the true value is to take your Waltham watch to a professional watch valuer or a Waltham pocket watch expert. Most Waltham pocket watches have some value, even if it’s only for scrap and parts. In this article I’ll offer some guidance and share some useful resources on how to get some idea of the value of your Waltham pocket watch.

See some expert watch investment tips from a Master Watchmaker here. Waltham watches are highly collectible and some specimens are a worthwhile investment. If you are lucky enough to own a Waltham watch you might find it is more valuable than you think, especially if it is in pristine condition. The Waltham Watch Company contributed greatly to the world of antique pocket watches with their precision engineering and fine craftsmanship. How to value your Waltham pocket watch – words Al Woods If you love pocket watches you’ll already be aware that certain timepieces have real investment potential.

Philadelphia watch case company serial numbers