Pocketwatch Identification Help Needed...

[Zman86]

My friends all know that I'm a watch nut. One friend has been telling me about a pocketwatch that she has had stuffed away in a drawer since she could remember, and that it came from way back in her family. Tonight she got it out for me to see. Its in rough shape. The crystal is plastic and is broken, and the watch is pretty tarnished, from the looks of it, its sterling silver. Theres not one word written that I can find to identify the brand of the watch, however I did highlight all of the markings I could find in the photos below. I found what I think is a service date in the bottom left corner of the movement cover, a very small hand scribed "1962". Probably the last time it was serviced. The dial appears hand-painted, and I couldnt get a great photo of it because its so shiny. It looks quite nice, and the hands on this watch are some of the most ornate I've seen, they are quite beautiful. I dont believe it is worth much, I'm just trying to figure out what it is, and I might go and get it re-conditioned and serviced for her as a gift so that she can continue to pass it on.

I couldnt get the photo uploader to work, so this is the biggest you will be able to view the pictures. The things I wrote are kinda hard to read, but you should be able to make them out. If not, just let me know. Plenty of thanks in advance guys.

[akhamdani]

I have the same problem with identifying a pocket watch that I got it last month.Sure many guys here can help.

[Zman86]

Took the watch to a watchmaker reccomended by Alcan today to be evaluated. He says it looks like it was made in the 1770's. Clean-up and service with a new crystal and mainspring replacement is gonna be $150, so I'm getting it done for my friend.

[WatchTimes]

1770's?? Hmmm, sorry but I don't think so....
Pocket watches first started to measure in minutes in 1702
The watch dial looks WAY too clean to be that old.
The sub second dial also isn't right for something from the 1700's.

Don't know if any of the markings are in English or list anything US
BUT if they do then its 1830 at earliest as thats when pocket watches
first started being produced in the US.

From the looks of things I would say it was more likely from the late 1800s or early 1900's.

Another thing, pocket watches were wound using keys till the late 19th century

The crown wind & setting was set up by Patek Philippe in the 1850's
Do a search, there are some forums of true pocket watch junkies which can
better help you but Im sorry I just don't think the watchmaker knew what he was
talking about with trying to date it.

[Zman86]

I asked him twice if he was sure it was 1700's cause I was thinking the same thing about the key wind, and he insisted. Oh well, whatever it is, it will be cleaned up and ready for the next generation in a few weeks.

[Alcan]

Zack, Roy might be a bit off with the date. Check with me tomorrow and I'll give you the contact info for a local appraiser who'll be able to accurately date the hallmark on the case. That will at least establish the year that the case was done.

[WatchTimes]

Keep us posted
Very nice of you to do this for your friend!

Id like to hear when it really is from.

Only way it is from the 1700's is if someone in the 1700's
went into a time machine and brought it back from the future.

The case MAY be from the 1700's as people did retrofit movements to
fit in older cases when the original watch was beyond repair.

Also in NO way was I trying to disrespect the watch guy you are using.
I am sure he is a GREAT watch repair guy but he is not an appraiser nor
does it sound like he claims to be so he was giving you his best guess
but as I said history shows that its not possible for it to be from the time frame
he claims as they didn't have quite a bit of the technology that went into the
watch your friend has.