![AMERICAN WATCH CO., WALTHAM [ American Watch Co., 沃爾瑟姆] | A RARE SMALL GOLD OPEN-FACED KEYLESS LEVER WATCH WITH ROCK CRYSTAL MOVEMENT CIRCA 1890 [ 罕有小型黃金懷錶備水晶機芯，年份約1890]](https://dam.sothebys.com/dam/image/lot/7b2c45ab-025e-4541-9450-2bd92f1678e5/primary/extra_small)
Masterworks of Time: Abraham Louis Breguet, Horologist Extraordinaire 「時間傑作——阿伯拉罕・路易・寶璣：鐘錶鬼才」
Masterworks of Time: Abraham Louis Breguet, Horologist Extraordinaire 「時間傑作——阿伯拉罕・路易・寶璣：鐘錶鬼才」
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AMERICAN WATCH CO., WALTHAM [ American Watch Co., 沃爾瑟姆] | A RARE SMALL GOLD OPEN-FACED KEYLESS LEVER WATCH WITH ROCK CRYSTAL MOVEMENT CIRCA 1890 [ 罕有小型黃金懷錶備水晶機芯，年份約1890]
Lot Closed
June 16, 02:31 PM GMT
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
AMERICAN WATCH CO., WALTHAM
[ American Watch Co., 沃爾瑟姆]
A RARE SMALL GOLD OPEN-FACED KEYLESS LEVER WATCH WITH ROCK CRYSTAL MOVEMENT
CIRCA 1890
[ 罕有小型黃金懷錶備水晶機芯，年份約1890]
• Movement: 4 size gilt brass with gold wheel train and crystal bridges, straight line lever escapement, cut bi-metallic balance, free sprung Breguet balance spring
• Dial: white enamel with black Arabic numerals and outer red five-minute divisions, gold filigree hands
• Case: possibly later gold with glazed front and back, decoratively engraved bezels
diameter 37 mm
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The rock crystal plate movements were made during the late 1880s and early 1890s by William R. Willis, foreman of the jewel department at the Waltham Watch Company. According to an account about rock crystal plate watches, it is said that Mr. Willis returned from a Mexican vacation with a large quantity of agate and rock crystal. It is thought that he made approximately 200 stone movements, primarily in 6 size, with crystal back plates only. For a detailed article about watches with Waltham Crystal Plates see, the Gerrit A. Nijssen and Carl B. Goetz, NAWCC Bulletin, No. 243, "Waltham's Crystal Plates," April 2003, pp. 172-190
For similar examples see: Sotheby's New York, Masterpieces from the Time Museum, Part IV, Vol. III, 14 & 15 October 2004, lots 1018 & 1019. See also: D. Hoke, The Time Museum Historical Catalogue of American Pocket Watches, 1991, cat. 53, p. 131 and front cover image.