The Columbus Watch Company was making pocket watches in Columbus, Ohio from 1874 until 1903. As a matter of fact, Dietrich Gruen (later of the Gruen Watch Company) was the founder at the age of 27. He had developed a safety pinion (which prevented damage to the watch gears if a mainspring broke) and was granted a patent that same year. He started by finishing movements imported from Madretsch, Switzerland (a suburb of Biel...a well known watch-making area). By 1882, D. Gruen and his partner W. J. Savage began making watches locally and by 1884 were also making their own dials. This particular Columbus was made circa 1891 and is housed in a yellow gold-filled, 18 size, hunting case. It contains a full-plate, lever-set, gilded, 7 jewel movement with the famous "Patented Pinion". By 1894, the company went into receivership and Gruen started again as D. Gruen & Sons, emerging with the later fame of the Gruen Watch Company. This watch has such an interesting case, due to the mirror-like center design on both lids. This is surrounded by a fancy, overall floral engraving that gives a rich appearance. The front lid has an un-engraved cartouche and the back lid is centered by a single flower in full bloom. Is is quite unusual. The porcelain dial displays Roman numerals, a sunken seconds bit, and blued-steel hands. The set lever is at the 5 o'clock position and the crystal bezel has a reeded edge. Even the case middle is engraved with the floral design and the case lids snap down with real authority. Of course, our watchmakers have it winding, setting, and keeping time like the fine watch it was meant to be. Don't miss it!
Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will assure you of years of continued pleasure and service from this very nice Columbus.
We get a lot of Waltham Pocket Watches here at Father Time Antiques but, we have never had this particular model before. It is a "Seaside", 7 jewel, three-quarter plate, gilded movement that is in fantastic condition. We think that it was only used on a blue moon month and then every other year. Seriously, it shows such minor use that we have no qualms recommending it for acquisition by someone who wants a watch that is in great condition. The inner case dust cover is mirror-like and the engraving is as clear as it was the day it left the factory. The front lid has those intertwined initials that form an intricate design (a "B" and an "H") and the back lid has the most wonderful engraving of a lighthouse at the - wait for it - "seaside". Both of these lids have floral and woodland engravings that cover 90% of the available space and each has a reeded lid edge. The lids are simply fantastic in their design and condition. The 6 size, yellow-gold filled case measures 41mm in diameter, by 58mm from the case bottom to the top of the bow, by 13mm thick. For a watch made circa 1885, this one is stellar.
It winds, sets, and keeps time just as it should! Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with peace of mind.
The Elgin Watch Company had a great sense of what the public wanted and how to make those watches that filled the bill. This ladies' solid gold, "O" size hunting case really hit the nail on the head. It was elegant and unobtrusive and it added just the right touch to a lady's costume, circa 1897. The 14k solid gold case measures 36mm in diameter, by 49mm (from the case bottom to the top of the bow), by 11mm thick... just the right size to wear on a slide chain or on a watch pin. It is a 7 jewel (typical for a ladies watch at this time) and it bears the inscription (on the inner dust cover) "Cora Partlow from Grandpa January 17, 1897"... if only they could talk and tell us what they had seen in the late 1890s. The porcelain dial is beautiful in its simplicity and is contrasted by the delicate blued steel hands. This is the only one we have had the pleasure to own with these fascinating concentric circles as the case design. The cartouche has the letter "N" engraved in script on the front case lid. So it's perfect if your name is Nancy, Norma, Nina, Natalie, Nellie... well you get the idea! Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence.
We get more Elgin pocket watches than almost any other company's production, due to our proximity to the Elgin area (a suburb of Chicago) and we are delighted that this is so because, Elgin was a wonderful company that made a really nice watch. The plus side for you, today, is that we have also purchased a large stock of Elgin parts, over the years we have been in business (38 and counting) and we can fix anything they made, with all original parts. This 15 jewel, three-quarter plate, nickel movement in a yellow gold-filled, 16 size hunting case measuring 47mm in diameter, by 41mm from the bottom of the case to the top of the bow, by 8mm thick. The watch has been lovingly cared for since 1910 and our head watchmaker tells me that he thinks it is good for another 100 years, if you take good care of it. The porcelain dial is very nice and it sports black Arabic numerals and blued steel hands. Notice the seconds bit at the six o'clock position and how nice the engraving is on the case lid and back. The cartouche has the original owner's initials engraved in a very fancy script that appears as an integral design of the watch. It is a very nice hunter that can be yours. Our one year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to enjoy it worry-free!
Waltham was a wonderful and prolific watch manufacturer located in Waltham, Ma. and they were in business from 1851 to 1957, in various iterations. Their earlier efforts, circa 1850, in Roxbury, MA, resulted in the Howard, Dennison & Davis moniker later changed to Boston Watch Company, then Appleton, Tracey, & Co., the American Watch Co., and finally the Waltham Watch Company. They were one of the giants of the industry and second largest only to Elgin. This Waltham is a 21 Jewel, "Crescent Street", adjusted to temperature and 5 positions. It is a lever-set, yellow gold-filled case, double sunk porcelain dial (with bold Arabic numerals), railroad watch that measures 51mm in diameter, by 62mm from the case bottom to the top of the bow, by 18mm thick (including the crystal). It is a screw back, screw bezel case and the hands are bold blued steel. There is a seconds bit at the 6 o'clock position that also has a blued steel hand. It sports strong shoulders surrounding the crown and a non-pull-out bow. What a nice 16 size railroad pocket watch! It is running well within railroad standards, just as it should, and the engraved bezels (front and back) give it a handsome look. There is minor brassing on the case back high points but it does not detract. This may be the one for you. If so, give us a call. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence.
The Rockford Watch company held forth from 1873 until 1915, a fairly short time in the history of watch factories, but they really made their mark due to their quality pocket watches. They only made 1,000,000 watches over that time period. So, there are not many about, today. The factory started with machinery that they purchased from the Cornell Watch Company and, at their zenith, employed about 400 workers. There is a contemporary account of production being about 70 watches a day with a sidebar saying that they were behind in their orders. By 1888, they had increased production to 150 per day and by 1901 they were re-organized with plans for increased production, but there were many impediments in the way. On September 26th, 1903, their 100 foot tall brick chimney was struck by lightening damaging a 40 foot section and causing a ton of bricks to fall and break out the windows on the north side of the building, were light was admitted for the benefit of those workers who were assembling watches. A Miss Carrie Hensel, who was an employee of the train department, "was taken home in serious condition on the verge of nervous prostration." A machinist by the name of Mr. Braconian said "his apron was torn off during the excitement" and that "he was stunned for a short time." By 1915, it was all over. The downturn in the watch market contributed to their demise, as did many other factors, but while they were in business they were a well-respected company who made great watches.
This particular Rockford is an 18 size, circa 1880, 11 jewel, coin silver, sidewinder, which is in a 59mm diameter case that is 23mm thick (including the crystal) and is 84mm from the bottom of the case to the top of the bow. It is massive... what one of the old-timers would call a real "turnip." Our master watchmaker has it performing just as it did way back when... a testament to their engineering. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence.
Many ladies' wristwatches are kind of ho-hum, but not this Swiss Credos beauty! Its styling is evocative of the era of "Big Fin" automobiles and dramatic styling circa mid-1950s. It is executed in 18k solid rose gold and is the only one of these that we have ever had. The case measures 19mm wide (not including the crown) by 41mm lug to lug, by 8mm thick (including the crystal). The 17 jewel movement is in fantastic condition and our head watchmaker has it setting, winding, and keeping time just as it should.
Make sure you take a gander at the "Zoom-In" views to see the spectacular lugs on this one. They sweep your eye away from the main body of the watch with three elongated lobes on either end. These lobes form the curved lug body which is drilled to contain the thick rope cord band that gives it the ultimate vintage look. Everything about this watch is wonderful... from the design, to the performance of its movement! If this one appeals to you, grab it up... you will probably never see another as they are scarce! Our one-year warranty will allow you to buy with confidence.
Gruen was the inventor and innovator of the watch called "Curvex" and they produced many different models of the "Curvex" for both men and women from the mid 1930s through the 1940s. The ladies' models are harder to find today, but just as interesting as the gentlemen's models. The "Curvex" models were not only visually appealing, but they were also ergonomic in shape. A little known fact is that the curved movement allowed Gruen to fill more of the curved case with the movement, as opposed to using a smaller flat movement. Many other companies attempted to create similar curved case watches, but could not duplicate the movement technology due to strict patent infringement laws. In the Gruen "Curvex", this made for a larger balance wheel, bigger mainspring, etc., which meant greater reliability for the wearer.
While the curve is not as dramatic in the ladies' version, it still carries Gruen's quality and attention to detail. This Ladies' watch is known as the "Curvex Duchess" model. It has a 14K yellow gold-filled case with a 17 jewel "Precision" manual-wind movement that our head watchmaker has lovingly restored to factory standards for timekeeping. It is winding, setting, and running with great ease.
The original dial has applied gold Arabic numerals and is cream colored with some patina. The overall effect does not detract, but beautifully shows the true vintage of the piece. The case measures 12 mm wide (not including the crown), by 38mm lug to lug, by 6.5mm thick in the center (including the crystal). It has a matching 12K yellow gold-filled bracelet that suits it to a "T". These are getting hard to find...so, don't miss it if you think this is the one for you!
There aren't many ladies' wristwatches that really fit the bill when it comes to Art Deco stainless steel watches... but this one does! It is a beautiful piece with a Swiss, 15 jewel movement and a stainless steel case that has a very dramatic lug design. The case measures 16mm wide (not including the crown), by 41mm lug to lug, by 10mm thick (including the crystal). The profile of the case, seen in the side-view photo, is quite impressive in its presentation and is highlighted by the very curved "Hi-Dome" crystal.
The sculpted lug design is to die for, as is the two-tone dial with its rose gold dial center and outer minute track centered by a silvered chapter square that displays the cardinal Arabic numerals with dots at the intervening chapters. Even the crown is special, with the shape of a derby hat. The black cord band suits it to a "T" and can be custom fit to your wrist quite easily. The movement is as clean as a whistle and running great! This is simply a wonderful ladies' art deco watch from the late 1930s that can be yours. Our famous one-year warranty will allow you to buy with confidence... don't miss it!
Founded in 1923 in Bienne, Switzerland, the Optima Watch Company was dedicated to making all their movements in-house, with exacting precision and Swiss quality. This particular "Art Deco" Optima is a very elegant, ladies' dress watch, executed in a very fancy, engraved, 18K solid white gold case that measures 15 mm wide (not including the crown), by 24 mm lug to lug, by 7 mm thick (including the crystal). It boasts a sapphire cabochon crown, case corners with sapphire blue stones, four diamonds (set north and south and east and west), and a silvered, engraved dial accented with blued steel hands. The silvered dial is just spectacular, with its engraved design and arcaded chapters. The bezel is also beautifully engraved and this gives the watch a wonderful look. The movement is a 17 jewel mechanical marvel that is winding, setting, and keeping time just as it should. This is a scarce watch from a company that did not compromise and it can be yours!
Novelty watches were in great favor because they only cost a few dollars and they were quite reliable for the price point. We here at Father Time Antiques have seen hundreds of them over the years but, this is the first one we have had with such an interesting dial. The entire dial is a golf ball that is branded "U.S. Royal". The nickel plated case measures 48mm in diameter by 58mm with the crown and bow, by 15mm thick (including the crystal). It was made in Bristol, CT by the Ingraham Company who made their fortune by producing reliable and inexpensive wristwatches, pocket watches, and clocks. It is running, winding, and setting great. The only thing you can fault is that someone in its past life tried to polish the case back and, in the photo you can see, they took off the nickel plating (down to the brass) by doing so. Everything else is fine. For the price point, you can't beat it. Fully restored and warrantied, for one year, for parts and labor!
It doesn't matter if you are Eloi or Morlock, this Hamilton "Flight II" will look great on your wrist. This reference to H.G. Wells' "Time Machine" does have its parallels with the passage of time and the ability to go back and re-live those forever-lost moments in time. Made over 60 years ago at the Hamilton Watch Factory in Lancaster, PA, this wonderful wristwatch was launched as one of Hamilton's avant-garde styling triumphs. The "Boomerang" motif was proof of their advanced styling, which was right in step with the automotive industry of that time. As a matter of fact, Hamilton had hired Richard Arbib from that industry to help bring the unusual shape to the Hamilton "Ventura" (the first electric watch). This "Flight II" is housed in a 10k gold-filled case that measures 28mm at its mid point (between the 9 & the 3), by 35mm at its extreme height, by 10mm thick (including the crystal). It is a manual wind caliber 770, 22 jewel movement that our head watchmaker has running like the day it was made. This is the nicest one of these scarce watches that we have owned in over 38 years. It sports a beautiful gold dial that has Arabic numerals at all the cardinal points with gold "pips" at all the other chapters. It also has the cross hair "gun sight" markings at the dial center. The finish is nothing short of spectacular. No one seems to know exactly how many of these watches were made or how many survive today, but I can tell you it is a fairly low number. When you take a look at the photo array, notice how crisp the cross-hatch texture is in the "Boomerang" shape at the top of the case and how it wraps all the way around the left side of the case. Many times this is where you will notice a great deal of wear...but not on this watch. We paired it with a textured expansion band that carries the motif all the way around your wrist. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to put this watch on your wrist with complete confidence. We have only one... don't miss it!