The A. Wittnauer Co. was the exclusive sales agent for Longines, starting in 1880, initiating a marriage that would stand the test of 114 years. In 1936, the Wittnauer family sold their interests 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. This particular model has what is termed a "hooded lug," where the band end is hidden under a cover that extends between the lug surfaces. This is a neat feature, but what makes it even more spectacular is the rilled case sides and the charcoal grey, textured dial with white gold, applied arrowhead markers and numerals. The case is white gold filled with a stainless steel back for wearing longevity and comfort. The 17 jewel movement is winding, setting, and keeping time just as it should and is in excellent condition. Now take a look at the segmented expansion band when you zoom in to the photos. It has black leather inserts in six of the segmented portions of the band for a very unusual look. This is a gentlemen's watch from the 1940s, but it would also look great on a lady who wants something just a little bit different. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence. This is a great looking watch... don't miss it.
This is a large (18 size) Hampden, 15 jewel, in a 4 oz. coin silver hunting case. The case is in great shape and the engraving is still pretty crisp while the cartouche is unengraved! We love to find them when they have not been personalized! That means that the cartouche can be engraved with your initials and become your family heirloom!
Hampden was an American watch company that held forth in Springfield, Massachusetts, starting in 1877 and later in Canton, Ohio by 1889. This watch, a Series I, 15 jewel, was key wind and key set. It was made circa 1879... a very early piece. Additionally, it bears the name H. Weidemann of Chicago which makes it a "jeweler's contract" watch. If you were a jeweler in Victorian times and you wanted to market your own brand of watch, you could "contract" with Hampden and many other watch manufacturers to have your name put on the movement (and sometimes the dial), provided that you met the minimum purchase requirement. That way you could be assured that your customers were getting a quality watch for which there was good engineering and an ample supply of parts.
This particular watch is in great shape and is a strong runner. It winds, sets, and runs with great accuracy. Remember all of our timepieces come with our famous one-year warranty for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence.
Once in a great while, a watch comes along that makes the heart of an aficionado sing. The Gubelin company made a wonderful watch and this one is stellar among their production. It is a complicated triple date with moon-phase in an 18K solid gold case that was made for their best customers, circa 1954. The dial of the watch shows the date by means of a red tipped hand that points at the date indices just inside of the chapters. The day of the week is shown in a window just below the twelve o'clock position and, in a window next to it, is the month. The phases of the moon appear in a crescent just above the six o'clock position. There is additionally a central red sweep second hand. All of the complications can be advanced manually by means of buttons on the case sides. The case itself is a classic square with quite a bit of heft and stylized teardrop lugs. This complicated movement is running and keeping time like the day it was made. The movement is a 25 jewel automatic mechanical work of art. The automatic feature is great for wearing everyday and it ensures that this accurate time keeper is constantly wound and right on the money. The 18K solid gold case measures 45mm lug to lug, by 32mm wide, by 15mm thick. This is a real man's timepiece that was made for the guy that wants something special. Don't forget all of our timepieces come with our famous one-year parts and labor warranty!
We don't see a lot of these Mathey enamel ladies pockets, especially in this condition, but when we do we acquire them. This one is a 13 jewel key wind, key set beauty in 14K solid gold hunting case that has enamel on both sides in a lovely portrait and reverse pattern. The enamel work is not only beautiful, but in wonderful condition. This watch was undoubtedly made for someone of high station in life. A real jewel-in-the-crown of your collection. Fully restored and warrantied for one year so that you may buy with confidence. We have only one. So, don't miss it!
This is a beautiful 12 size, multi-color, 14k gold-filled Elgin pocket watch. It displays floral and bird patterns that are typical of that era. The serial number indicates that the watch was made in 1904. The movement has 7 jewels and is running just like when it was new. The initials engraved on the back of the watch are PJ. They are barely perceptible on the pink scroll at the lower right quadrant of the watch. On the other side is a flying bird in the same position. Our famous one year parts and labor warranty will make your purchase worry free!
This is an American Hampden, circa 1904, Series 4, in a 16 size gold filled case. The engraving is in great condition and the cartouche (where you normally see the family initials) is open and waiting for your initials so that it can be an instant heirloom! The case measures 50mm in diameter by 70mm from the case bottom to the top of the crown. The movement is a 17 jewel "Gen. Stark." which is one of Hampden's best. Make sure you zoom-in on the photos of the case... it is just spectacular. You can even see the tiny lines of what is called "Engine Turning" in the background of the raised and engraved foliate design. Normally, by this time, those lines have worn off, but not so here. The case is a handsome thing to behold. While you are looking, also take note of the "stirrup" bow (a feature that was a definite upgrade). Now, take a look at the dial. Notice the red Hampden name and 5 minute markers... very unusual! This is all good, but the crowning glory is the movement, which is simply breathtaking. It is a 17 jewel, nickel plate, with inlaid gold markings, and is a two finger bridge model, series 4. This watch was someone's prized possession and it was so well cared for over the years, it's darn near perfect. This could be the one for you. Remember, all of our timepieces come with our famous warranty for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence.
This Westfield Driver's Watch was designed to wear on the edge of your wrist, so that could see the time easily with your hands on the wheel of your car. That way you don't have to remove your hands from the wheel when you are steering the car! The watch has a gold filled case with a stainless steel back that measures 27mm wide and 31mm from lug to lug. The Swiss movement has 7 jewels, and our watchmakers have it winding, setting, and keeping time like the day it arrived here from Switzerland, circa 1939. If you want an unusual watch for your wrist or collection this may be it. Remember all of our timepieces come with a one-year warranty so that you may buy with confidence.
The Hamilton watch company was founded in 1892, but they didn't produce their first watch until 1893. The first watch was designed by one of the companies founding members - H.J. Cain. Their pocket watches commanded immediate respect and became prominent timepieces for railroad engineers as well as the general public. The "Broadway Limited" was introduced in their first year of business! These watches were so respected that they became the official watch of the American Expeditionary Forces world-wide! A special wristwatch version was made and supplied to General Pershing and his men in WWI. Admiral Byrd relied on the same watch on both his Arctic and Antarctic expeditions. Auguste Piccard used a Hamilton timepiece on his balloon ascent into the stratosphere in the early 1930s. The first American to summit Mount Everest, Jim Whittaker, was wearing a Hamilton in 1963!
This Hamilton is a sixteen size, open face pocket watch that is indicative of Hamilton's quality and their commitment to timekeeping at a world class level. This beautiful pocket watch has a plain polish bezel, a beautifully engraved case back (with a small personalization in the shield), a 21 jewel, "940", railroad grade, lever-set movement, and an excellent porcelain double sunk dial with red five minute outer track. What's not to like about this one! You can't go wrong with the Hamilton name and a great looking 25 year gold-filled case (the thickest standard production gold-filled case). The watch is railroad grade, adjusted to 5 position, with a motor barrel and safety pinion, that winds, sets, and runs with exact railroad timekeeping standards! Make sure you look at the "Zoom-In" photos of the movement plates to see how wonderful the damascening patterns are on the back plate and balance cock. Yes, it a beauty and it could be yours. Remember, all of out timepieces come with our famous one year warranty for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence.
This Elgin is in near mint condition! Look at the 8 size (43mm in diameter by 63mm, top of bow to bottom of case) "Box Hinge" (Swiss Montilier) case. The engraving shows no signs of wear and these cases were among the most desirable made at the time. Take a look at the "Zoom-In" photos to see how this watch is constructed. The extra beefy case shoulders at the top and bottom of the watch are what make it a "Box Hinge" and these improvements assured the owner that the case was very strongly made for a lifetime of use. The 11 jewel, 3/4 plate gilded movement circa 1887 winds, sets, and runs great. This is a scarce size and in great condition... don't miss it!
This is one of the most progressive, asymetrical watches Zodiac made! Not only is it stylistically advanced for its time, it is also a mechanically advanced timepiece. The automatic (self-winding) movement has 21 jewels and is running just like new. The gold filled case is wedge shaped and measures 35mm at the widest point and 42mm from lug to lug. The watch has a gold-on-gold motif that carries all the way through the dial color. The mystery hour hand appears to be disconnected from the movement and has the appearance of floating around the dial. The center of the dial is actually a platter that rotates as it carries the hour hand creating the mystery. The crown is at the 2 o'clock position and displays the Zodiac logo. The watch has a stainless steel snap-back that makes it perfect for everyday wear. These watches are getting harder and harder to find in good condition and this one is a beauty. Don't miss it! Our one-year warranty means you get a watch in top condition with the most security available!
This is one you have to see in person because the photos just can't capture the real Art Deco essence of this timepiece! I think that it is the light coming off of the stones that gives it a special appearance that the camera just can't see. Talk about a definitive Art Deco watch... this is it! The watch is a very nice Swiss Orator that our watchmakers have winding, setting, and keeping time like the day it arrived here in America in the 1930s.
The metal is all sterling silver and the black enamel work surrounding the dial just sets it off perfectly. The dial is a beautiful cream color with a corrugated texture. The chapters are applied gold Arabic numerals surrounded by painted gold dots designating chapter and minutes. The gold hands complete the look!
The bar pin is hand-engraved and catches the light quite nicely. The stones are all costume, but the quality of the movement is an excellent, 17 jewel Swiss beauty. There are 34 marcasites bordering the watch and 18 baguette rhinestones that compliment the upper black half-round and lower black pyramidal stones. The head is 23 mm wide, 26 mm long and 14 mm thick and hangs from a hinged joint. Attached to the pendent, the whole piece hangs 80 mm. No doubt some well-to-do lady wore this piece to a fare-thee-well. Now, you can have an authentic piece of the era that has a great deal of style for a reasonable price, in fully restored condition, and warrantied for one year for parts and labor. Not only is it a nice watch, but it is also a piece of Art Deco jewelry. Don't miss it. We have only had one of these after being in the business for over 40 years!
This is a lovely little ladies Elgin Pocket Watch, that would have been a real prize for any lady in 1914 when it was made. These watches were almost always worn on a slide chain around the neck or on a watch pin. The chain was long enough that it doubled over you head and formed a "V" shape holding the watch securely at your breast bone. Residing on the chain was a slide that you could position at whatever your collar configuration was for your outfit. The slide moved easily along the chain, but stayed in place once it was positioned due to bits of cork that were inside of the slide for this purpose. It made for a very elegant look. Most women had gold-filled watches, but a few were lucky enough to have a solid gold one like this one. Not only is it solid 14k gold, but it is one of the most beautifully engraved watches we have had in over 33 years. The hand engraving is so spectacular, not only in execution but condition that it takes you eye whenever you are near it. Make sure that you take a look at the "Zoom-In" photos to see it in detail. There are two cartouches on the lids that are a very unusual ovoid shape. One is plain polish and awaiting your family initial, while the other has an intricate idyllic scene engraved to amuse your eye. Once you have drooled over the engraving, take a look at the fancy bow at the top. In a world of plain circular bows, this one is king. As you might imagine with a case this wonderful, the seven jewel movement is in pristine condition and the superior of the two grades that Elgin offered at the time. Our watchmakers had only to clean, oil, and regulate the watch to get it winding, running, and keeping time just like it did back in 1914. Many women had watches of the era, but only the lucky few had solid gold watches like this beauty and it can be yours. Remember, all of our timepieces come with our famous one year warranty for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence. Don't miss this one... as we have only one!