Seth Thomas carries a proud and unique heritage, founded by a Puritan man with an iron work ethic who was born just after the Revolutionary War in Connecticut. His clockmaking company began producing high-grade pocket watches in 1885, the only American clockmaker to attempt it, and the factory ended up making some of the most gorgeous designs of our railroad era, spanning nearly 30 years' worth of production until the outbreak of World War I.
The Seth Thomas Company's 18-size Model 5 was their only full-plate design, debuting sometime around 1893. It is not known which grade led off, though the first recorded one was the 17-jewel gilt Grade 82 at SN 200101. The 11-jewel Grade 58 was offered soon after in a single unbroken run of two thousand pieces from SN 200601 to 202600, and then the grade was retired permanently. This scarce lever-set example has the correct outboard regulator arm without the stub, the correct dial and even the correct hands - completely restored for the next owner to enjoy for years to come. It's housed in a new replacement display case, made right here at American Timekeeper specifically for this movement and its precise dimensions. The case is made of anodized aluminum and 360 brass with relief cuts in the front bezel to make unscrewing it to set the time easier, and the convex glass crystals on both sides makes it easy to show off this exceptional survivor from the 1890s. All new cases come with a 12-inch Type I paracord lanyard and color-matched carabiner to prevent drops.
Manufacturer - Seth Thomas
Serial Number - 201077
Watch Size - 18
Watch Model - 5
Watch Grade - 58
Jewel Count - 11
Winding/Setting - Stem/Lever
Production Year - Around 1893
A perfect way to show off your family heirloom is under a 3x4-inch glass display dome with a walnut base on your mantel, protected from dust and out of harm's way but visible for everyone to admire.
Safely store or display your favorite pieces in a custom wooden cabinet, designed and built to your specifications in your choice of domestic species, finishes, hardware and lighting packages.
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.