🥇 BANNER Solid Gold Watch With Family Connection!

staninbji

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Nov 26, 2016
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I was detecting in a small park in Bangor, Maine the other day and got a very deep quarter signal. So imagine my surprise when this pops out! IMG_20190726_101020679_HDR.jpg IMG_20190726_101146715_HDR~2.jpg

A ladies' gold watch with the initials "RWT". After getting it home, cleaning it up and managing to pry the back off of it, the owner's name was revealed: "Ruth W. Thomas" IMG_20190727_141116095_HDR.jpg Then under the back cap, the serial number indicates that this watch was made in 1896. Using this data and a genealogy site, I found her! She was born near here in 1873 and was living in Bangor when she got married in 1899. Just as a curiosity, I decided to see if there was any connection between us.

Keep in mind that I'm from Minnesota, but my mother's side of the family was from Maine and colonial Massachusetts. It turns out that she was a distant cousin of my great-grandfather! She never had any children so I'm inclined to think that it's mine to keep. I didn't know it at the time, but I made an awesome discovery and a relic return at the same time! Thanks for looking and HH!!!
 

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BLK HOLE

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That is so cool!!
 

West Jersey Detecting

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Too funny! What a coincidence. I was going to go over but my wife gave me the eye roll.
 

washingtonian

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Sep 26, 2005
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Super cool. Somehow I missed this post the first time around. 1st great find was the watch and the second was the family research. Well done!!
 

Relicific

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Feb 2, 2017
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Incredible find
Congrats
 

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staninbji

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Nov 26, 2016
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What karat is the solid gold marked?

gw

Can't find a mint mark but here's a pic. The spots that look like it's bubbled are where I rubbed from the outside with a bamboo skewer to remove some"tarnish". I didn't know that I was doing any damage until I was able to get the back off. :( Does that mean it's only gold plated? I once found a really old wedding band stamped 10K that had the same stuff on it. Tell me what you think! IMG_20190803_131111825_HDR.jpg
 

Wildcat1750

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What an astounding and unexpected tangible connection for you back into your family’s past! Congratulations on Banner!
 

XLV

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Jul 27, 2016
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What the face of the watch look like Roman numerals ? what company made the watch ? Is that hunter case marked 18k ? I had one that was similar made in that time period the time piece had roman numerals
 

ANTIQUARIAN

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Apr 24, 2010
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That was an amazing find with an even better story to go along with it! :thumbsup:

Congratulations on achieving your first BANNER on Tnet Stan!

Dave
 

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staninbji

Jr. Member
Nov 26, 2016
92
402
All over!
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab CTX 3030, Garrett AT Pro
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
What the face of the watch look like Roman numerals ? what company made the watch ? Is that hunter case marked 18k ? I had one that was similar made in that time period the time piece had roman numerals

Yep, Roman numerals and it was made by the Elgin watch company. Thanks for the like and HH!
 

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staninbji

Jr. Member
Nov 26, 2016
92
402
All over!
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab CTX 3030, Garrett AT Pro
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
That was an amazing find with an even better story to go along with it! :thumbsup:

Congratulations on achieving your first BANNER on Tnet Stan!

Dave

Thanks, Dave! HH!!!
 

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