Dandy of a pocket watch

[randazzo1]

This little beauty was identified as a watch that “needs new battery”. I absolutely love seeing that lol. Paid $15. Solid 14k - and quite hefty too. Estate sale in NJ.

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Congratulations. Unidentified bargains happen so rarely these days at professionally run estate sales, Wow!

 

[ArfieBoy]

"Little beauty" is an apt description! Thanks for sharing with us. Congratulations.

 

[randazzo1]

Congratulations. Unidentified bargains happen so rarely these days at professionally run estate sales, Wow!

The seller was confused. The back of the case says “Guranteed 585 Fine” and he said Gutanteed means it’s gold plated not solid gold. I’ve heard this before. I think they’re thinking of the ones that say “Guaranteed X number of years”. He also thought it took a battery, so....

 

[luke_00]

Nice find! I had something similar happen to me once. Got a nice 1970's Helbros divers watch that "needed a battery". Picked it up for a buck!

 

[tamrock]

Dandy for sure and looks to be in beautiful condition.

 

[RatherBeDigging]

Wow! Great find. Any idea on age? Don't know pocket
watches. Was into wristwatches before metal detecting. And will say people often misidentify manual winds as quartz needing a battery. They don't often miss a 14k case though. Definitely not a 14k mark I've seen before but you'd think the 585 would be a give away...
I picked up a Zodiac 14k ladies cocktail watch with two little diamonds for $18 shipped. Was listed as "quartz double date" but had a clear to me 14k mark on the back.

 

[trdking]

Definitely a solid 14k case! Quite the score. However I do not see where to install the battery? Good job PS movement is pristine

 

[40 Rounds]

Nice find...love pocket watches. I tried to read the serial number...not sure if i got it right...looks like Elgin National Watch Co # 4173661. If that is correct this is what I found on the pocket watch look up page.

Here is the website if you want to dit yourself;

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/4173661

Manufacturer: Elgin
Manufacturer Location: Elgin, Illinois
Movement Serial Number: 4173661
Grade: 101
Model: 1
Class: 52
Estimated Production Year: 1891
Run Quantity: 1,000
Grade/Model Run: 30 of 36
Total Production: 54,000
Size: 6s
Jewels: 11j
Movement Configuration: Hunting
Movement Finish: Nickel
Movement Setting: Lever
Plate: 3/4 Plate
Barrel: Going
Train: Quick
Regulator: Plain
Adjusted: No
Railroad Grade: No
U.S. Patents: 77078
Data Research: 1896 Elgin Serial List
1904 Elgin Serial List
1915 Elgin Serial List
1927/1950 Elgin Serial List

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Did you get it working that would be a keeper for me.

 

[randazzo1]

It runs very well. It seems to me that it’s a ladies watch because of the size. I listed it on Etsy and got an offer for a little under asking ($1495). I’m hoping it sells during the holidays.

 

[JimDon]

Nice score. Just be careful for those marked 14K Napoleon. I was fooled by that one time and found out that it is not 14 karat. Yours that was obviously 14 karat and a great score.

 

[silverdollarbill]

This is the stuff dreams are made of! The gold color is very nice too....I would have guessed it was 18K. I've seen people mistake “Guranteed 585 Fine” as gold filled, but the battery part is just plane stupidity. Assuming you will be a regular at these sales!

@Jim....I never heard of 14K Napoleon but it definitely would have fooled me. Thanks for the tip!

 

[silverdollarbill]

hmmm.....take a look at info below. This guy claims that "napoleon 14K" is gold filled and other times it's 14k gold. However, most other people say Napoleon is gold filled. @Jim....do you know fr sure?

https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/case-marked-napoleon-14k-what-is-it.171219/

My reason for choosing to respond to this thread, is because it's an excellent illustration of the power of the internet and should be the poster child for "don't believe everything you read".

I hope the original poster didn't off hhis watch as gold filled. While it's true that sometime after 1900 the "napoleon" trademark became synonymous with "gold filled" .... in 1899 a case marked Napoleon 14K from Illinois watch Co, was indeed a solid case material ... if not true 14K. (I've read where they used to cheat the assay a bit, the swine).

Here's an example of "Napoleon 14K" that sold on ebay as 14k gold: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Am...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Here's one, where I am not sure, but based on price was probably gold filled: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gold-Elgin...015266?hash=item2d1605ec62:g:rV4AAOSwMqtfTIog

Might be worth something to keep an eye out for.

 

[Drmad7]

I posted in Thrift stores! Your luck in finding this watch rubbed off on me! Picked up a nice gold one yesterday!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Beautiful piece, congrats!