DESCRIPTION:
APW - Illinois, Grade 179, 21J, mvt and dial marked for retailer A.A. Webster & Co. of Brooklyn, N.Y., 16S, very heavy 14K gold A.W.C.Co. HC recase with five-knuckle hinges and with small Jurgensen-style lips, gold cuvette with 1899 presentation, originally with a glazed observation cover over mvt but this is no longer present, white enamel DS dial, SW-LS, fully capped lever escapement, two-tone gilt and nickel damascene, s#1300508. Gross weight of assembled watch 85.0 dwt (132.1 g). A scarce watch, total production of the Grade 179 hunting case is believed to be a bit over 700 made and these were Illinois' finest product at their time of introduction in 1896. This notable early example is from the first run of Grade 179 production and is just the 8th made by serial number.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, excellent-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, good two-tone color, some scattered small surface spots, winding wheel with some fine scratches and a small patch of oxide at perimeter, balance jewel setting with blued replacement screws, case screws are mismatched; dial with scattered hls in outer chapter including several clusters, small patched chip near perimeter near 5; excellent hands; case shows very little wear, cuvette with fine scratches at perimeter from slipped past openings, small nick to upper perimeter of front, small dents to band at 12:30 and 1:30, good engine turning detail aside from a small spot of rub to upper-front and a small spot of rub to lower-rear, cuvette with substantial excess play at hinge and opened cuvette falls open/closed freely with gravity; tight bow, crown shows substantial wear with ridge break; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$2200
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$2600
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