DESCRIPTION:
APW - Elgin, B.W. Raymond with winding indicator, "BU. Aero. U.S. Navy" marked mvt and dial, Grade 494, 23J, 16S, heavy nickel OF original case, "BU. Aero. U.S. Navy G.C.T Elgin" marked black metal DS dial, SW-LS, fully capped lever escapement, jeweled barrel arbor, gold jewel settings, gold center wheel, striped pattern nickel damascene, s#34682626. Gross weight of assembled watch 89.3 dwt (138.9 g). A rare 1930s military timepiece, the total production of the Grade 494 was 5000 made but only a tiny fraction of this number were made and marked for military use.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, good winding indicator function aside from hand being set being slightly out of index, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, fine scratch at adjustment markings, typical micro-fine scratches elsewhere, hub of larger winding wheel missing one of its retaining screws and it appears a small bit of the stem of the screw is remaining, minor oxide to regulator assembly, one mismatched blued case screw; excellent dial with ultra-fine crazing to painting of hour numerals, very small spot of black finish loss at edge under bezel at 4:30; fine hands with paint chips; case shows light wear, few scattered scratches and scuffs to rear, very mild soft shallow dent at center rear evident as ripple to reflected light, ding at lower left perimeter of rear, some scattered pinprick nicks; tight bow, crown shows little wear; glass crystal with internal edge chips at lower right.
ESTIMATE:
$1000
-
$1600
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