Re-Inventing Myself

UPDATE: This watch has since been sold but I wanted to leave up this post to show the beauty of the watch and it’s’ movement.

I recently found this “Antique” Hamilton Pocket Watch in my watch collection. I don’t have any recollection of where it came from so I’m interested in selling it. I’ve done quite a bit of research on the details of this watch, which you will find below. From the research I’ve done a watch like this could be worth as much as $400 to $500. Similar watches of this Grade, 990L, are going for that or higher on ebay. This is considered a Railroad Grade watch, meaning it was so accurate that Railroad workers could use them. Hamilton also put a lot of work into it’s movements and they are well known for their artistic damaskeening on the movement which turns this watch into more than just something to tell time by but also into a piece of art.

Here are some teaser pictures of the watch and the movement.

Movement Serial Number: 839899
Estimated Production Year: 1911 (from pocketwatchdatabase.com)
Run Quantity: 300
Size: 16s
Jewels: 21j
Movement Configuration: Openface
Movement Finish: Nickel
Model: 1
Movement Setting: Lever Set
Plate: Unknown Plate
Adjusted: Yes
Adjusted to Positions: 5
Railroad Grade: Yes
Source: http://pocketwatchdatabase.com/
Dial: White porcelain, double sunk, Arabic numerals, red 5-minute markers
Hands: Blue opalescent spade hands and center of second hand

This watch is in working condition and from what I can tell has all original parts. The movement is very intricately detailed and visually pleasing. Someone into Steampunk would enjoy the look of this watch very much, particularly if the back of the case were replaced by another front to show the movement at all times.

Case Information
Mfr: Fahys
Case Type: Open Face
Case Style: Screw Off Front and Back
Case Grade: Permanent Quality “14K Gold-Filled, no time limit on warranty, or Permanent, introduced about February 1901, by 1904: stamped “Fahys” w/ Caduceus trade mark in back.”
Serial Number: 3879284
Other Case Markings: B1788g(s), 7681, 18395
Engraving: The back of the case has a monogram engraved. It is very stylized and is either ECS or EGS
Fahys’ History: http://mb.nawcc.org/showwiki.php?title=Joseph_Fahys_and_Co
Notes: Some slight discoloration is on the interior rim of the Front. Possible corrosion. There also appear to be other markings around the interior rim of the Front as well as another Numeric marking below the 6 on the watch case.

While the above information was taken from http://pocketwatchdatabase.com/ and indicates that the Estimated Production Year is 1911 the following sites indicate that it was more likely manufactured in 1910. These sites show actual images of Hamilton catalogues that show when specific serial numbers were manufactured.
http://www.antique-pocket-watch.com/hamilton-pocket-watch-serial.html
http://www.pocketwatchsite.com/hamiltonserials.html

This page will let you confirm the Grade of the watch, 990L, based on the serial number.
http://www.pocketwatchsite.com/hamiltongrade14.html

Want to learn more about the Hamilton Watch Company, here is some info on them in Wikipedia.

Want to learn more about the Pocket Watches specifically, visit the Collector’s Weekly page about them.

1910 Hamilton 990L Pocket Watch-Face View 2

1910 Hamilton 990L Pocket Watch-Face View 3

1910 Hamilton 990L Pocket Watch-Back View

More pictures of the Front and back of the Hamilton 990L Pocket Watch from 1910.

More pics of the Movement of the Hamilton 990L Pocket Watch from 1910