This is a perfect daily carry piece because it's housed in a salesmen's case, allowing you to gaze for hours at the intricacies of its gear train without having to ever remove the rear cover. Just sitting and watching one of these mechanical works of art from a century ago as it runs is mesmerizing indeed. Need to reduce some stress?
American Waltham made some of the best designs of the railroad era - watches that not only were beautiful with tight tolerances and superior alloys - but were easy to service and made with components that couldn't get mixed up. Their 16-size Model '99 was introduced just before the turn of the century and was the platform for dozens of grades, lasting for well over a decade. The 17-jewel Royal was one such grade, offered with brushed winding wheels, gold jewel settings, and a gold star regulator. All of the factory jewels on this example still survive intact - an increasingly rare thing -which was just restored for the next owner. A set of correct blued light spade hands front a double-sunk Arabic dial, an upgrade over the standard pressed dial, and it's all in a nickel-silver salesmen's case with snap-on covers, beveled glass windshields, a sharp crown and a tight bow. Matching lanyard and display stand included.
Manufacturer - American Waltham
Serial Number - 15034928
Watch Size - 16
Watch Model - 1899
Watch Grade - Royal
Jewel Count - 17
Winding/Setting - Stem/Pendant
Production Year - 1907
Make sure to tether your watches to prevent drops and store them safely when you're not carrying one.
This compact mahogany chest has three felt-lined cedar trays that can hold twelve of the larger 18-size watches. Inventory card included.
A two-tone 12-inch brown leather strap with russet as the accent stripe with a pair of brass ferrules and a matching spring-loaded swivel snap.
There will come a time when you want or need to sell this watch for one of several reasons. If it's going to a fellow collector or someone who will genuinely appreciate it, then that's fine. On the other hand, if you're consigning it to an auction house or selling it to your local jeweler or gold hog it will almost certainly end up on eBay in pieces with the case melted down.
Instead of the watch being parted out for the bottom feeders to pick over, we will gladly buy the watch back from you, less 10% and the cost of a COA, plus anything else needed to return the piece to the condition in which you originally bought it.
One of the rarest of all Waltham dials - the coveted red guilloche with fancy hands, fronting a Model '88.