Talk about an affordable watch from a great American manufacturer for not much dough....this is it. The American Waltham Watch Company (later Waltham) of Waltham, MA. was second largest only to Elgin. They didn't produce as many wristwatches as Elgin, but the ones that they produced are really nice. They held forth from 1851 until 1957. In 1946, they made this great looking, white gold-filled, rectangular beauty that has its original dial finish with alternating even Arabic numerals and square markers. There is a seconds bit, which mimics the case shape, at the 6 o'clock position and the blued steel hands are outstanding. The case, which measures 23mm wide, by 35mm lug to lug, by 7mm thick (including the crystal) houses a 17 jewel, caliber 750-B movement that is winding, setting, and keeping time just as it did back in 1946. We have selected a great looking, black, lizard grain band that completes the look perfectly. Make sure you notice the rilled sections between the lugs as these touches give it a very unusual appearance. This entire piece of wrist-art can be yours! Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will assure you of years of great service from a very cool watch!
As you may know Elgin was the largest producer of timepieces in America and they were in business for 100 years at the factory in Elgin, Illinois. They produced a wonderful line of clocks, pocket watches, and wristwatches, many of which are still in use today. This is not only a testament to their technical prowess, but also to their classic styling. This particular gentleman's Elgin is the "DeLuxe," as you can see from the name on the dial. This one is quite elegant, not only because of its silvered dial and stylized gold numerals, but also because of the way the case embraces the movement. It is a 17 jewel (caliber 555) movement in a gold-filled case, sporting a seconds bit at the 6 o'clock position, the shape of which mimics the overall tonneau case shape. The case measures 25mm in width (not including the crown) by 36mm lug-to-lug by 11mm thick (including the domed crystal). We have fitted it with a dark brown croco band to complete the look. The watch is in wonderful condition and is a size that can easily be worn by a man or a woman. Our head watchmaker has it running like the day it was made back in 1945. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will give you the confidence to acquire this elegant watch for you or someone you love.
Because of our proximity to the town of Elgin, Illinois, we have ready access to many watches that were purchased in Chicago, the hub for railroad transportation in the 1940s when a lot of freight moved by rail. Sure, Elgins were available all over the USA, but we had a hometown advantage. This proximity also has allowed us to purchase many original Elgin parts over the years from factory employees, local watchmakers, and jewelers as they went out of business. Consequently, there aren't many that we don't have original parts for and this fact bodes well for the future of many vintage Elgin wristwatches. I think we can safely say that we will be able to service your Elgin for a lifetime.
What? You don't have an Elgin? Well then, here is a great one for you. It is the Elgin "DeLuxe", a 17 jewel, yellow gold-filled rectangular watch with subtle tonneau sides. The case measures 22mm wide (not including the crown) by 34mm lug-to-lug by 9mm thick, including the height of the crystal. We have fitted it with a nice dark brown, smooth leather strap that suits it well. The dial has a beautiful creamy colored background that has aged perfectly and which provides a nice contrast for the applied gold Arabic numerals in every position except for at the 3, 6, and 9. At the 3 and 9 position is instead just a horizontal line, adding some distinct personality to the traditional layout. The leaf shaped hands are elegant and easy to read. It also has a sunken seconds bit at the 6 o'clock position, whose shape is identical to the shape of the case.
Once you look at the photo of the movement in the "Zoom-In" views, you will see what great condition the movement is in. Our head watchmaker tells me that it has a perfect timing pattern on the Vibrograph (the timing machine). Although this is a gentleman's watch it could be the perfect size for a lady's wrist as well. At a price which won't break the bank, it is quite a buy. Don't miss it! Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will assure you of great performance for many years to come.
You probably know by now that Elgin was the giant in the watch industry in America and that their product was superior to most of the Swiss imports that were flooding the market back in the early 1950s. The Lord Elgin was their best watch, and this one is a 21 jewel workhorse with a "Durapower Unbreakable Mainspring". This was quite the technical advantage at that time and a wonderful thing for us to have today. This is a very handsome, rectangular watch that will look great and perform beautifully for generations to come because it was well made and well cared for over its life. We have learned from the engraving on the back of the watch that Mr. George Boivin received this watch in 1953 from his friends at the I.C. (probably the Illinois Central Railroad) and no doubt he cherished it as the very special gift it was. The yellow gold-filled case measures 23mm in width by 38mm lug-to-lug by 10mm thick (including the crystal). The dial has aged beautifully to a light coffee color which is indicative of perfect aging and makes for a wonderful vintage look. Make sure you zoom in on the photos to get a good look at the movement and you can tell that it is spotless. Here's a great watch for very little dough that is in great shape... don't miss it! Our one-year warranty will allow you to buy with wild abandon!
Elgin produced watches in Elgin, Illinois (a Chicago suburb), for over 100 years. They were the largest and most prolific of the American manufacturers and the "Lord Elgin" was their premier product. It was produced in 19, 21, and 23 jewels. This particular Elgin is a 21 jewel beauty that is very cool watch in more ways than one. First the 21 jewel movement is a thing of mechanical beauty. Second, the original cream colored dial has a great patina due to age. Third, the stylized Roman numeral "12" is very unusual with alternating arrowhead markers and squares. Lastly, the swooping lugs and domed crystal are very handsome. If you take a look at the "Zoom-In" photos you can see a slight pitting of the dial, due to age - a sure sign that it is original. This gives the watch a very vintage look. You will also notice that there is a symbol just below the Elgin name and this means the watch is fitted with an unbreakable "Durapower" mainspring...quite a feat back in the day. The seconds hand revolves once a minute and the shape of the seconds bit mimics the shape of the case. In short, this is one killer wristwatch from the late 1940s. The case is yellow gold-filled, measuring 21mm in width by 35mm lug to lug by 10mm thick (including crystal) and it is running like the proverbial top. This handsome timepiece is in fantastic, original condition and just waiting for a wrist to adorn. Remember all of our timepieces come with our famous one year warranty for parts and labor, so that you may buy with confidence.
This French desk clock and inkwell combination, by Bonnet & Pottier, is just stunning. The black marble base is naturally streaked with wonderful tan incursions that give the marble a wonderful look. The clock has a porcelain dial that exhibits hand-painted gadroons that arch from one chapter to another. This is contrasted by the Louis XIV gold hands which are artfully pierced and indicate the time opposite Arabic numerals. The movement is an eight jewel, balance wheel movement that is running like the proverbial top. It measures 18" long, by 7" wide, by 10" tall. The top of the clock is ornamented by two cavorting gilded birds and the base is flanked by twin inkwells with hinged tops. This would be a lovely piece to grace your desk. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with complete confidence.
The English Fusee Gallery Clock is a Classic and this is one of the nicest ones we have ever had the pleasure to own. It measures 16" in diameter, by 7" deep. These clocks were used in many public places and the pendulum was kept hidden inside of the case so that it could not be easily tampered with nor would it be a distraction. If you are not familiar with the concept of the "Fusee," try to imagine a short cone with a grooved track that starts at the base of the cone and then in one continuous track ascends to the top of the cone. This was a very clever device that allowed a very even power distribution from fully wound to almost wound down. The mainsprings that were being made at this time, circa 1870, were not capable of delivery an even amount of power to the movement over the course of a week. The clock would run faster when fully wound-up, and slower as the spring lost power over the course of 7 days. To circumvent this problem the mainspring barrel had a tiny chain (made like a bicycle chain) that wrapped around the outside of the barrel (the housing for the mainspring). When the clock was wound the chain was pulled off the barrel and on to the "Fusee" cone, with the first windings taking up the biggest diameter of the cone. Once fully wound, the spring would exert a force around the smallest diameter of the cone, but as the mainspring lost power it would pull across an increasingly larger and larger diameter of the cone, thereby getting a mechanical advantage and delivering very even power for an entire week. Very clever...No? This is one of the reasons that these clocks are of interest today. Pocket watches of the era had the same mechanism in them for the same reason. As steel became more readily available and with better composition the power issues were a thing of the past. This is interesting if you are into mechanical things as we are but the clock has such great panache that its presence really overshadows the mechanical aspects. I think it is the silvered dial that is inlaid with fired enamel that makes the statement loud and clear! The fact that the maker's name "I. Wynn" is a homophone and a desirable victory cry just makes me smile. This particular maker hailed from Windsor and I'm sure caught the attention of the royal family due to the exceptional quality of his clocks. The clock is fully restored and warrantied for one year. If you are looking for a really nice fusee then this may be the one for you! Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to purchase with complete confidence.
It isn't often that we come across such a nice example of a French wall clock, but even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then. The three-dimensional carving on the case is just spectacular and every other element just adds to the drama. The central lion's head protrudes from the case just above the 12 o'clock position as though it were leaping out of the case itself. The "wing-like" finials and overtopping urn shape add to the overall effect and are balanced by the wonderful treatment at the case bottom. The chapters are porcelain cartouches that really make the dial easy to read and are quite dramatic. The gilded hands are pierced to give them an elegant appearance and a nice contrast against the walnut dial. The entire façade of this great timepiece is hinged to open like a book so that the owner can gain access to the movement and the pendulum. As you articulate the façade the dial remains in place as the façade moves away for access. The entire case is French walnut and is executed in the grand style of an 1870s gallery clock. The movement is a "threaded verge" which is an eight day, time and strike, on a coiled gong. Our head clock maker has fully restored the movement so that it can give you a lifetime of dependable timekeeping. It is just a fabulous clock...don't miss it!
Made in Budapest, Hungary, circa 1900, this fabulous, enameled easel clock is the perfect Art Nouveau desk clock. It is key wind, and key set, from the rear. The Swiss movement winds, sets, and runs just as it did over 100 years ago. The gilded tendrils that form the case work are indicative of the age as they embrace the hand painted panels that depict three "putti's" hovering above an enthralled couple in a sylvan glade. The enamel work is exquisite and undamaged. We constantly search for high quality examples of the enameller's art...especially from the Art Nouveau period...and they are few and far between. As an added bonus, the dial is mother of pearl that provides a great shimmering background for the "blued steel" hands. If you are desirous of a really nice enameled Art Nouveau clock this may be the one for you. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence.
If you were a resident of Lucerne, circa 1888, you might have noticed the opening of a new watch and jewelry store in your town, for that was the year that Carl-Friedrich Bucherer and his wife Luise opened the family business. It didn't take long before the Bucherer name was synonymous with quality and luxury. When they were established in Lucerne, they branched out to other Swiss cities and tourist destinations. Once Americans brought back some of their treasures from their trips abroad, the name was on the lips of others who wanted to partake. By 1977, the third generation of the family was in charge of this flourishing enterprise. In 2013, Bucherer celebrated their 125th jubilee by opening the world's largest watch and jewelry store in Paris. In 2017, there was the addition of four more boutiques in London. Today, Bucherer values its partnership with Rolex as one of its most important. They also value their reputation for high quality timepieces.
As a case-in-point, take a gander at this very nice 25 jewel, automatic, day/date in a yellow gold-filled, cushion shaped case with screw-down stainless steel back for wearing longevity. It is circa 1968, with a silvered dial that sports very dramatic gold block markers contrasted by rectangular blunt end hands and a central sweep second hand. The day/date feature is at the three o'clock position and it has a gold frame that delineates the feature. The case measures 34mm wide, by 39mm lug-to-lug, by 10mm thick. We have fitted it with a 20mm croco grain brown band that suits the watch perfectly. It is fully restored and warrantied for one-year for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence.
Movado is a Swiss manufacturer known for its Museum Watch. Designed in 1947 by Bauhaus-influenced artist Nathan George Horwitt, the watch dial has a very simple design where the dial is defined by a solitary dot at 12, symbolizing the sun at high noon, but Movado also made some very nice solid gold dress watches that are of superior quality... this is one of those. It is an 18k Solid Gold, gentleman's wristwatch that is "Chronometer" rated, indicating that it has passed rigid standards for accuracy. It is, in fact, at the pinnacle of mechanical watches in a world where few qualify for this mark.
Some Movado watch models have Esperanto names such as Bela ("beautiful"), Belamodo ("beautiful fashion"), Fiero ("pride"), Brila ("brilliant"), Linio ("line"), and Verto. The company's name means "movement" in Esperanto.
This Movado has the high grade, 28 jewel "Kingmatic" movement with the model name just above the 6 o'clock position indicating that it is an automatic (self-winding) watch. Another neat thing is that has a date feature at the 3 o'clock position. The case which measures 36mm in diameter, by 41mm lug to lug, by 8mm thick, is 18k solid gold which is a beauty to behold... it is a very handsome watch! To gild the lily we have fitted it with a luxurious dark brown genuine crocodile band that really suites it. Here is a solid gold watch, in a nice size case that is a top quality performer for a very reasonable price when you compare modern watches of the same quality but at twice the price. This would be a great watch to wear "In The Heat of the Night"!" Our one-year warranty will allow you to buy with confidence.
The Wittnauer Co. had a longstanding relationship with Longines that endured until 1936. We think that the brand is one that is often overlooked, but this is a big mistake because they made very nice watches like the one we are offering here. The Wittnauer family sold their interests in 1936 and the brand was renamed the Longines-Wittnauer Co., a name that became so burnished in the public lexicon, that most people assume Longines and Wittnauer watches are one and the same. In fact, they produced different movements that were very individual to their brand. Wittnauer was a Swiss company that made very nice watches, and this one is no exception. It is a 17 jewel, rectangular case, with stepped lugs. The yellow gold-filled case (with a stainless steel back) measures 27mm in width (without the crown), by 38mm lug to lug, by 8mm thick. It takes a 16mm band and we have fitted it with a very nice dark brown, handmade, Louisiana crocodile beauty. The case sides are very slightly curved to give it a tonneau appearance and it has a seconds bit at the 6 o'clock position that is a recessed square shape. The Arabic numerals are applied gold that stand proud of the silvered dial surface. The gold baton hands complete the look. Made in 1950 it exemplifies the age. Our watch makers have it well within factory specs so that it winds, runs, and keeps time just as it did circa 1950. Our one-year warranty will assure you of years of reliable service.