American beauty

So I can’t quite remember but I think this was the first pocket watch that I bought. If there was an earlier one then I have definitely moved it on - probably as I focused on holding on to just a few quality ones. So this is the earliest acquisition (not the oldest watch) of the ones I have now.

It does have a crack in the dial between the XI and XII, a few other hairlines and a chip in the seconds sub dial but otherwise it’s pretty clean and runs beautifully and, given its age, I’m okay with those. Would love to know how the sub second dial got chipped as that must have been an expletive laden moment!

It’s a hefty piece as all size 18s are but they were tools (not jewels) and so I like that emphasis on quality and engineering.

I remember when it arrived one of the hands had come loose in transit (poorly packed unfortunately) and was wedged tight between the dial and the case. Unscrewing the case risked bending and possibly ruining the hand so it took almost all my patience to eventually coax it free (essentially finding the right angle and just enough impact in the right location) as I didn’t want to damage the movement. I suspect I could have been more forceful as it’s more robust that I perhaps give it credit for but it had just been serviced and I really didn’t want to risk it.

I particularly like the dial markings with the hours, minutes and 24 markings (apparently a “Canadian Dial”), which was one of the main reasons why I wanted to own it. Size 18 dials are big so there’s ample space.

I am always struck by the care and attention to finishing and decorating these movements. It was clearly a time when engineering and craftsmanship were still very much intertwined. I credit this watch with convincing me of the quality of the American pocket watches of the time relative to most of their European contemporaries.

Servicing costs can be high relative to a watch’s value but, it’s the same for say a 1970s Seiko, and I definitely think these watches deserve to be admired and to survive for many years to come (as I do for a 1979s Seiko too).

That there is a small pool of enthusiasts is fantastic as there is a huge amount of knowledge out there and it’s great to see that there are people as young as 20s and 30s who enjoy servicing and restoring these watches as that means they should be around to be enjoyed for a good many years to come.