Waltham 1907 Dennison Cased Demi Hunter Solid Sterling Silver 15 Jewel UK Origin!

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$1,121.00

• Details
  How about a 1907 Sterling Silver English Demi Hunter AKA Half Hunter Trench Watch. (WW1 started in WW1) I have been collecting and restoring watches for many years. I have two amazing offerings for your consideration. Both are the very rare styled “Demi ”Hunter” styled, this means that they have a flip cover that opens up, its other function is to help protect the vulnerable crystal.
  
  
  This rare Trench Watch offering originated in England. We know that because the very famous English case manufacturer ALD. It is clearly stamped on the case. Let’s examine the English Hallmarks to peel back the onion of the early watch story.
  
  
  So, if we do our match, the case is 117 years young. Here is where it gets interesting. When you read below about the history of Trench Watches you will understand that they were often built to order. This case is dated to 1914, the movement dates older! It actually dates to 1908. This is so typical of the early wrist watch era. This movement most likely started out in a small pocket watch. Early wrist watches started about WW1 time. (1914-1918) Could this be one of the earliest wrist watches, often called a wristlet?
  
  
  You will notice that somewhere in its 117 years the case came up against something slightly abrasive. Look at 3 o’clock and you will see the “Blue” enamel numbers inlayed into the case top have slight scratches to them. Not unusual for a watch that is this old. I find it a badge of honor rather than a deterrent
  
  
  
  
  Details
  
  
  What an incredible offering. How about an solid sterling silver English Demi Hunter Waltham Trench Watch from the famous (ALD) Dennison watch case manufacturing company.
  
  
  
  How about a little history lesson on British hallmarks, these hallmarks can reveal a lot about a watch
  
  
  
  Let’s review the Hallmarks
  
  
  
  Lion: That is British Stamp for Sterling Silver 925 ( 92.5% pure silver)
  
  
  
  Anchor: The assay office of Birmingham England
  
  
  
  Upper Case “P” Year of 1914
  
  
  
  The dial is stunning, it is a “Bold” military porcelain dial. It is bright and very easy to read. .
  
  
  
  History about Trench Watches
  
  
  
  What is a “Trench Watch” ?
  
  
  They were created using 3/0 and 0 size pocket watch movements and installing into watch cases that were meant to worn on the wrist. The watch movement companies would send their movements to independent jewelers, who in turn would select the cases (as described below) to house the movement.
  
  
  So the ordering process might go like this. A customer walks in to a jeweler, with the help of the jeweler, the customer selects a 15 jeweled movement, then they go on to the case selection. The jeweler may recommend a higher end case manufactures like Depollier, and then it is the style of case as many manufactures had several different styles. Once a complete selection was made, the jeweler put it together and delivered the watch. That is how many Trench Watches (wrist watches) were born in the early 1900's.
  
  
  The movements often came from women pocket watches because the wrist watch as we know was just being discovered. It is not uncommon to see various movements used in different cases, with various years. Remember the wrist watch was just being developed.
  
  
  They often have some of the following characteristics:
  
  
  Fixed or Wire Lug: No traditional spring bar attachment as found in today’s watches.
  
  
  Case Material: Solid Gold / Sterling Silver (925) / Silverode or Gold Filled were used. (This case lid snaps snug on the case. This is important to note as many cases were badly damaged by their owners over the past 100 years. This watch case has been taken care of throughout its 100 years, it is in remarkable shape)
  
  
  
  *For more practical purposes, a special alloy was developed which went by several different names, such as, "Silveroid, Silverore, Silverode or Silverine. "Silveroid" appears to have become the standard name for this metal that consisted of 45% nickel, 54% copper and 1% manganese. This metal was fairly hard wearing and could withstand the rigors of everyday use, for instance on the Railroads.
  
  
  
  Case Manufactures: There were many case manufacturers that made cases for Trench Watches. Some of the more well know were: Dennison (English Manufacturer) Illinois (not affiliated with the Illinois Watch Company) J Depollier and Sons, Wadsworth, Fahys, Philadelphia, Fortune and many more
  
  
  
  WW1 was 1914 to 1918, that is the time frame of many Trench Watches.
  
  
  
  One of my favorite trench watch cases from WWI were made by J. Depollier & Son and the English case maker Dennision.. These cases had high quality manufacturing details that made them some of the best of their day Dennison cases were available in Nickel, Sterling Silver, 14k Solid Gold, 18k Solid Gold.
  
  
  
  This movement was made in 1908. The ALD case company was consider on of the best watch case manufactures in the watch world. This case is no exception. This is the rare highly sought after the front cover has a port hole to read the time! This design was more expensive to manufacturer; it did a better job of keeping the elements out of the watch. This was a more expensive design feature than many cases of that time period.
  
  
  
  The Solid sterling silver case is an oversized Trench Watch case relative to many others. It measures as follows:
  
  
  
  32.50MM wide, without the crown, 37MM with the beautiful pumpkin crown
  
  
  The hinges on this watch have NOT been abused or stretched. So often these hinges get so badly beat up and abused over the years. These are in remarkable shape.
  
  
  The case lugs are healthy and not bent, another indicator of being taken care of.
  
  
  
  The watch band is a brand new black “Bund” 12MM opened ended band with a stainless steel tang buckle.
  
  
  
  The watch keeps beautiful time. Please know I received these several years ago when the owner in the UK had indicated that it had been service. It runs beautifully as of this listing. Please assume a service may be in the near future. I can provide one if you want, it takes 2-3 weeks and I would charge you what my watch maker charges me!
  
  
  The movement is 15 jewel, overwhelming namy watch movements produced in theis time ear were 7 jewel, this is a much better qulity 15 Jewel. As a matter of fact only 1500 were prodiced in 1908. not many!
  
  
  Manufacturer: Waltham
  
  
  Manufacturer Location: Waltham, Massachusetts
  
  
  Movement Serial Number: 15481990
  
  
  Grade: No. 165
  
  
  Model: 1907
  
  
  Estimated Production Year: 1907
  
  
  Run Quantity: 5,000
  
  
  Total Production: 197,100
  
  
  Size: 0s
  
  
  Jewels: 15 Jewels
  
  
  Movement Configuration: Hunter
  
  
  Movement Finish: Nickel
  
  
  Movement Setting: Pendant
  
  
  This watch originated from the UK, that is where I acquired it. I like to offer some unusual timepieces and think this one qualifies. This about his for a moment.
  
  
  This is an American Watch company who partnered with the ALD (Dennsion) watch case company to supply watch cases for their movements in the UK. ALD already had a great reputation for high quality, now they were partnering with Waltham to bring England an alternative their watches. It was marriage between Dennsion and Waltham that lasted for many years
  
  
  Please use the pictures as part of the description, ask as many questions as you would like. I am happy to send more pictures of add clarity that you made need. I ship every Wednesday, please keep that in mind when and if you make a purchase.
  
  
  As you can tell from some of my reviews, I am invested in my customers; you are much more than a transaction.
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