Rockford is one of the best names for an antique American watch brand, partly because James Garner springs to mind, but mostly because it just sounds tough and durable. And they were durable - they had to be, since they were marketed primarily to railroad personnel and spent their service lives crisscrossing the growing nation, keeping the freights on time. Don't miss this rugged survivor from just after the turn of the century!
The town of Rockford is located on the Rock River in Illinois and was the perfect choice for a pocket watch factory, since three rail lines converged on the town. The company was one of the smaller ones, with the factory making fewer than a million watches in their 40-year run. This handsome 18-size piece is a lever-set 17-jewel Grade 925, one of a run of two hundred with an unusual two-tone pattern - while the vertical alternating stripe motif was common in this grade, most of the other runs were a simple zigzag. This one is circular-milled, giving the pattern the appearance of having gold flecks. It fronts a similarly uncommon #670 double-sunk Roman-numeral dial with a single light hairline by the lever behind swelled spade hands. It was just restored and is ready to be enjoyed by the next owner, cased in a heavy 20-year gold-filled Philadelphia with either an elk or a mule deer on the back. The bow is tight, the crown is sharp, and the crystal is new glass.
Manufacturer - Rockford
Serial Number - 593453
Watch Size - 18
Watch Model - 9
Watch Grade - 925
Jewel Count - 17
Winding/Setting - Stem/Lever
Production Year - 1903
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