Waltham Watch Company

A 14 karat yellow gold and ruby watch brooch. Waltham. Circa 1940. Designed as a polished gold disc, decorated with a star motif, enhanced by small round cabochon rubies, centering a watch, of mechanical movement, 16.5mm, the white dial with Arabic and baton numerals. Diameter is approximately 2 1/8 inches, gross weight is approximately 32.5 grams. Dial signed Waltham Premier.

FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tonneau Shape METAL / MATERIAL: 14kt Solid White Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1926 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 34mm X Diameter 28mm MOVEMENT / 25 Ruby CALIBER: Manual Winding / 17 Jewels / Ruby Series DIAL / HANDS: Original Silvered with Gilded Numerals / Blued Steel Hands ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Alligator, 16mm / Regular Length WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This rare solid gold art deco watch was produced by the iconic American house of Waltham from Waltham Massachusetts. It is a wonderful original watch that still has it original box and price certificate. It is rare to find a vintage watch...

FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company for Montgomery Bros., Los Angeles / English Hallmarked Case by Dennison STYLE / REFERENCE: Pre Deco / Campaign Style METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt Solid Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1908 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 34mm X Diameter 39mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 19 Jewels / Caliber Riverside Maximus DIAL / HANDS: Flawless Original Kiln Fired Enamel Dial with Arabic Numerals / Blued Steel Hands ATTACHMENT / BRACELET: Stitched Alligator with Period Buckle, 18mm / Regular Length WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT WOW... this is one of the earliest American Wristwatches we have ever seen. The watch is entirely hand made by the legendary house of Waltham, from Waltham Massachusetts. The movement dates to about 1908. The case is hand made for this watch by the Dennison Case Company, in Birmingham England. It also dates to about 1908 which corroborates that it is all original. While most American watches had American made cases, this is a rare example of a British Case. Dennison was one of the premier European Case Companies and did special order cases for a select group of American Jewelers. This is the only example of this model we have ever seen. A quick glance at the movement and one can see how truly fine the finish is on it. While this watch is nearly 120 years old, it is still dependable and can be worn and counted on to get you there on time, every time, and uniquely there as well. You will never see another example of an American wristwatch as fine as this one. WALTHAM HISTORY Through the American civil war and two World Wars, and beyond, Waltham's legacy and spirit lives on in this wonderful vintage watch. It is truly a representation of the idea of American Exceptionalism. The wonderfully crafted design is timeless. Even after 100 years or more, this watch can dependably be worn, used and counted on to get you there on time, every time. It is versatile enough to be worn for all types of occasions and various clothes. Wear it with a suit or even for more casual occasions but, certainly, feel confident that you are wearing a piece of history. The Waltham Watch Company was an American watch manufacturing house founded in 1850 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. It was the first American company to mass-produce watches using interchangeable parts. The company's watches were known for their quality and affordability, and they quickly became popular with consumers. Waltham played a major role in the development of the American watch industry as well as establishing the concept of “mass produced” products. By the way, Henry Ford was a watchmaker, and he was inspired to build cars the same way Waltham Watches were produced, for the masses with interchangeable parts. Waltham’s success helped to make the United States a major player in the global watch market as well as promote the idea of “industrialization.” Before the Waltham Watch Company, watches were generally produced by hand, in “cottage” industries. They were owned by the wealthier class or the “working class” that needed to know the time. The company's affordable watches made them accessible to a wider range of people and helped to change the way people thought about time. Prior to this, people used their local Church bells to direct them in their daily lives. The Company continued to grow and prosper throughout the 19th century. During the American Civil War, they supplied watches to the military, and of course they grew because of this association. In 1885, they moved their headquarters to Waltham, Massachusetts, and changed their name to the American Waltham Watch Company. Waltham was a major exhibitor at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The company's exhibit at the exposition was housed in a large pavilion that was designed to resemble a factory. The pavilion was filled with watches of all shapes and sizes, as well as machinery used in the manufacturing process. The exhibit was a major success, and it helped to raise the profile of Waltham watches around the world. Amongst the visitors at the exhibition was a contingent from Switzerland. When they realized what Waltham was doing, they quickly understood that their methods were outdated and soon enough they would be a country unable to compete. They also went to the Waltham factory for a visit after the exhibition. It is said that they purchased a few of Waltham’s higher-grade movements. The director of the factory said he would have them “adjusted” before they left, but they said it was not necessary. When they arrived back in Switzerland, they checked them and were shocked at the level of quality and accuracy. This prompted them to buy some of the equipment that Waltham was using so they could start building better watches that were less expensive and more accurate. Some of that machinery ended up in the small town of Schaffhausen and became The International Watch Company. They are still in business today making exceptional watches. The military, for any nation, is a powerful source of revenue for industrial contracts. So, any industry would prosper during war and Waltham continued to be a supplier to the military for over 100 years. Through WW1, WW2 and the Korean war they designed timers, navigational devices, automobiles, aviation and nautical equipment. The Waltham Watch Company, like many companies, inevitably went through a series of financial difficulties. During the 1920’s they almost went bankrupt because different departments were competing against each other for contracts. Some departments had made enough parts for watches to last 20 years. By then of course they would have been useless. There were several restructurings of the powerful entity but eventually in 1957; after producing about 40 million watches, the company was forced to close its doors. However, the company's legacy continues to live on. Waltham watches are still sought after by collectors and enthusiasts, and the company's history is an important part of the story of American manufacturing. MONTGOMERY BROTHERS LOS ANGELES HISTORY Montgomery Brothers was a prominent jewelry retailer in Los Angeles with a rich history dating back to the late 19th century. James A. Montgomery, the founder, arrived in Los Angeles in 1881 with just $3.50 to his name. He started modestly by repairing watches at a small shop on South Spring Street. His business steadily grew, and he soon expanded to selling diamonds, gold and silver watches...

FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Original Bracelet METAL / MATERIAL: White Gold-Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1932 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 32mm X Width 1...

From American Waltham Watch Company, 14 karat yellow gold pocket watch Bartlett Grade model no. 1908 in size 16 with Serial Number 23033...

FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Cushion Shape METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt Solid Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1911 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 28mm X Width 24mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 17 Jewels / High Grade Caliber 6-0 DIAL / HANDS: Silvered with Solid Gold Applied Roman Numerals / Breguet Style Blued Steel Hands ATTACHMENT / BRACELET: Leather, 13mm / Regular Length WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT We have never seen this model before by the legendary house of Waltham. The movement is entirely hand made and set with solid gold bushing for the jewels. Impressively the dial is done in Sterling Silver and the Roman Numerals are done is Solid Gold. The original hands, done as Breguet style Moon Hands still have their blued steel finish on them. The case on this is watch was made for Waltham by J. Depollier & Son. They were the finest case makers in the United States and this one is entirely hand constructed. Since this watch has been in a vault for 50 years it needs to be serviced. The price includes a factory quality service by our finest watchmaker. You will likely never see another example of the watch again. If you are looking for a unique vintage watch...

FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: 16 Size Multi Colored Hunters Case / Crescent Street METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt Solid Gold Multi Colored CIRCA / YEAR: 1907 DIME...

FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: 18 Size METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1892 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Diameter 55mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual ...