Waltham, 1901, Rare Paper "Overlay" Luminous Dial, 7 Jewel

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$1,388.00

• Details
  This is a Waltham Trench watch. It has a beautiful hand polished yellow gold-filled case. If you are a seasoned or just starting out, you are going to love this design element of this watch. It is a watch that has beaten “Father Time”! Look closely, this is a rare offering! This has a paper dial sticker from over 100 years ago. It is amazing that Radium throughout the years did not burn or destroy the dial. The paper dials were an accessory that could be purchased to enhance the dial and make it luminous. This is the only one that I have offered in 20 years of collecting. A true rarity. I have included an advertisement from the past to showcase this hard to source offering. Due to the rarit4y of this treasure, it will carry a higher price than most due to its special nature. The crown jewel of this watch is the “Paper Dial” ( and its condition) and the collective condition of the case.
  
  
  Look at picture 4 which is a advertisement for the rare paper dial?
  
  
  My shop was recently selected to supply vintage American watches for a premier movie starring some major actors and a world-famous director. They were looking for authentic watches that would represent the time period from 1915-1926. It is a true story of events that took place during the 1920’s. This watch would have been perfect for the movie “Killers Of The Flower Moon”,
  
  
  I have been an avid vintage watch collector for years. My soft spot is 1900-1935 American watches.
  
  
  The ones that I do not wear very much get sold for other watches that may be hard to find. All my watches for sale are in above average condition, some are pristine.
  
  
  I pride myself in offering the best quality and reasonable prices. Remember, "Price is what you pay, value is what you get".
  
  
  This is what I have completed on the watch:
  
  
  Complete tear down overhaul and service of the movement
  
  
  New stem, crown and sleeve
  
  
  NOS crystal
  
  
  The dial was carefully left untouched due to its rarity
  
  
  The case has hand polished
  
  
  12MM open ended “Black Oily Leather” band with a stainless steel buckle
  
  
  1901 The US was still in the middle of WW1 ! This is a marvelous example of a Trench Watch or what is also known as a WW1 watch worn by the Doughboys of WW1. This is a 7 jewel.
  
  The case measures approximately 32MM wide
  
  The 0 movement has been serviced. The size of this movement is getting harder to find. Especially ones that have a “Gilt” finish, yellow finish.
  
  
  This model is referred as a “Trench Watch, truly for military application. This case was designed and manufactured by Wadsworth, a well-known manufacturer in the early 1900s. There is no noticeable wear through on the case, this is a good wear indicator of hard wear or an easy life. This treasure has had an easy life, take advantage of its life of pampering.
  
  Let me share what I know about Trench watches and how they came about. Trench watches were a result of a need in ingenuity in watch making.
  
  You see, trench watches were ladies pocket movements repackaged into watch cases that had fixed wire lugs that leather band / strap threaded through the back
  
  
  The usual watch movement sizes that were used were 3/0 and 0 sizes. Then within those movement sizes were the jewel counts. The 7 jeweled movements was the most prolific WW1 movement manufactured in numbers. The movements had serial numbers that would enable the consumer to track its production date, production quantity and specification. This watch dates to 1917 through its movement serial number.
  
  
  Movement manufacturers: the American manufactures were Waltham, Elgin, Illinois and Hamilton. Waltham and Elgin being the two manufactures who produced the most quantity. Illinois had a short lived history that was distinguished in the watch world.
  
  
  Here is where the creative thought comes into play. In the early 1910’s the independent jeweler would place an order for a movement, that movement order would be dependent upon social position of the potential buyer. If he was middle class they might order a 7 jewel movement and have it installed in a white or yellow gold filled. If they came from money, they might of order a 17 or 19 jeweled movement and install it in a solid gold case. This approach was the genesis of the wrist watch today.
  
  
  It is not uncommon to see the same watch movement in a gold filled case, sterling silver case or solid gold case. The case manufactures were Dennison, Philadelphia, Keystone, Wadsworth, BB Royal to name a few. This was the beginning of wrist watches.
  
  Grade: No. Seaside
  
  
  Manufacturer: Waltham
  
  
  Manufacturer Location: Waltham, Massachusetts
  
  
  Movement Serial Number: 10244450
  
  
  Grade: No. 1891
  
  
  Estimated Production Year: 1901
  
  
  Run Quantity: 8,000
  
  
  Size: 0s
  
  
  Jewels: 7 Jewel
  
  
  Movement Configuration: Hunting
  
  
  Movement Setting: Pendant
  
  
  Hairspring: Breguet
  
  
  Adjusted: No
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  Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery

  Ship items back to me within: 30 days of delivery

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