American Pocket Watch Appraisal

Waltham Pocket Watch

This is a Waltham pocket watch, featuring a classic open-face design. The watch has a silver-toned metal casing, likely chrome-plated or possibly nickel, which shows a reflective, polished surface. The dial is white or off-white, providing a clear contrast for the timekeeping elements. The hours are indicated by black Roman numerals, with the 'WALTHAM' brand name prominently displayed in black text above the central axis. Minute markers are represented by small black dashes, with triangular markers at the quarter-hour positions (15, 30, 45, 60 minutes relative to the 12 o'clock position). The watch features three hands: a minute hand, an hour hand, both in black and simple, elegant sword or bâton style, and a sub-seconds dial positioned at the 6 o'clock mark. The sub-seconds dial has Arabic numerals at 10-second intervals (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60) and smaller dashes for individual seconds, with its own small black second hand. The crystal appears clear and unbroken, allowing for good visibility of the dial. The winding crown and bow (the loop for attaching a chain) are visible on the right side of the watch, consistent with standard pocket watch construction. The overall condition appears good with no significant visible damage such as scratches, dents, or cracks on the casing or crystal. The luster of the metal suggests it could be a well-maintained piece, though some minor surface wear might be present under closer inspection. Given the style, particularly the Roman numerals and sub-seconds dial, this pocket watch likely dates from the early to mid-20th century. The quality appears to be standard for a Waltham movement of that era, known for reliable timekeeping.