Illinois Watch Company Appraisal

Illinois Gold-Toned Open-Face Pocket Watch

This item is an antique or vintage open-face pocket watch, appearing to be gold-toned, possibly gold-plated or gold-filled, rather than solid gold, given the visible wear and discoloration. The watch features a white or off-white dial with black Arabic numerals for the hours. There are also smaller, possibly red, numeric markers for minutes, indicating a railway dial style or similar clear legibility design. The dial prominently displays the manufacturer's name 'Illinois' vertically oriented. It has a sub-dial for seconds located between the 4 and 5 o'clock positions, a common feature in historical pocket watches. The main hour and minute hands appear to be a dark, possibly blued steel, while the seconds hand on the sub-dial is also dark. The crystal covering the dial is possibly acrylic or glass, showing some dust and minor surface imperfections. The watch case itself is circular with a hinged cover visible in the foreground, which shows significant wear, tarnishing, and discoloration, suggesting age and use. The case exhibits areas where the finish has worn through, revealing a different base metal or a corroded surface. The crown, located at the 12 o'clock position (opposite the visible hinge), is fluted and also appears gold-toned with some patination. The overall condition suggests a well-used item, with moderate to significant visible wear, tarnishing, and potential surface damage to the case and cover. The craftsmanship appears consistent with early 20th-century American watchmaking, known for its precision and durability, though specific details like movement grade are not discernible from the image. The watch likely dates from the late 19th to mid-20th century.