testing123
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2009
- Messages
- 2,366
- Reaction score
- 1,986
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- United States
- Detector(s) used
- CTX 3030, TDI SL
Update #2. I'm now leaning towards "gold filled" as there are what looks like "cracks" in the gold, which looks to be exposing a different kind of metal. Would it be horrible if I tried breaking out the movement, so I'm left with just the case shell?
Update. I took it to the local clock/watch shop but he couldn't get the back open. He tried for about 10 minutes, and eventually said, "oh, we can get it open, but it will be with a pair of pliers." So, I decided to leave after that, haha. Just by looks he said it looked more like brass than gold. I courteously disagreed because of how it came out of the ground (ownership adds something haha). So, I then took it to a local pawn shop to have it tested. She did the scratch test where they put the acid on the flakes that scrape off. She said it didn't test 14k, but does "barely" meet the 10k criteria (possibly 9k?). BUT, she wouldn't give her full blessing for solid gold, though.
I have it with me now and am looking for any breaks where, if it was plated/filled, the gold would have worn away. I honestly can't see any. Still taking dirt away, and still a gold color shines though. I'll try cleaning the cracks a little more...
As soon as I found it, wasn't quite sure what to make of it. It looked gold, but much of it was covered in very tough black dirt so I couldn't tell it if was solid, or plated. When I got home, after scraping some of the dirt, what was under it wasn't tarnished and it looked gold! I finished cleaning it up and it sure looks gold to me.
I'm not sure if the stem (is that the proper term?) is gold though. It didn't clean up quite like the case. Is it common to have this different metal than the case?
Nice design on the back... looks to be hand-engraved as the carvings aren't 100% perfect.
Any idea on age? It measures about 1 3/4" wide and about 2" tall with the stem.
Thanks and happy hunting!
Update. I took it to the local clock/watch shop but he couldn't get the back open. He tried for about 10 minutes, and eventually said, "oh, we can get it open, but it will be with a pair of pliers." So, I decided to leave after that, haha. Just by looks he said it looked more like brass than gold. I courteously disagreed because of how it came out of the ground (ownership adds something haha). So, I then took it to a local pawn shop to have it tested. She did the scratch test where they put the acid on the flakes that scrape off. She said it didn't test 14k, but does "barely" meet the 10k criteria (possibly 9k?). BUT, she wouldn't give her full blessing for solid gold, though.
I have it with me now and am looking for any breaks where, if it was plated/filled, the gold would have worn away. I honestly can't see any. Still taking dirt away, and still a gold color shines though. I'll try cleaning the cracks a little more...
As soon as I found it, wasn't quite sure what to make of it. It looked gold, but much of it was covered in very tough black dirt so I couldn't tell it if was solid, or plated. When I got home, after scraping some of the dirt, what was under it wasn't tarnished and it looked gold! I finished cleaning it up and it sure looks gold to me.
I'm not sure if the stem (is that the proper term?) is gold though. It didn't clean up quite like the case. Is it common to have this different metal than the case?
Nice design on the back... looks to be hand-engraved as the carvings aren't 100% perfect.
Any idea on age? It measures about 1 3/4" wide and about 2" tall with the stem.
Thanks and happy hunting!
Attachments
Upvote
0
Open the back, it should have like a separate compartment then alittle flap that opens. Inside that should be a marking of some sorts. If it does, research it!!! I found one that dated back to 1896-1899 Should give you some idea to the age. WTG Greg 
one thing that makes figuring this out more difficult is that with the higher dollar watches a person would often buy the movement separate from the case and the watch "maker" or jeweler would marry them up. or the case could get replaced at a later date with a better case.
