DESCRIPTION:
APW - Rockford, Grade 61, extremely rare 22J, 18S, gold-filled OF recase, white enamel SS dial, SW-LS, fully capped lever escapement, jeweled barrel arbor, two-tone gilt and nickel damascene, gilt mvt screws, s#439865. An extremely rare watch, Rockford's total production of 22 jewel movements was very small, and this is in fact the first open face example we recall having encountered. This piece can be seen to have been initially finished as a 17 jewel movement before being upgraded to its 22 jewel count, but we believe this upgrade was Rockford factory executed as the jeweling and finish appearance is very much consistent with the handful of other 22 jewel Rockford watches we have encountered, namely a very small quantity of hunting case model movements that were private label signed for Chicago jeweler Joseph P. Wathier and for Minneapolis jeweler S.B. Abeles. This factory marked open face example is very similar in terms of finish quality and two-tone damascene style, but its initial origin as a more humble 17 jewel movement is evident as its barrel bridge marking of "22" is alongside what was clearly originally a "17" marking that was later obfuscated with the addition of some decorative flourishes, and as the "Jewels" marking can be seen to have initially been simply a "J" with the "ewels" portion added at a later point.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, excellent two-tone color, some scattered fine to micro-fine scratches, oxide to regulator assembly, some mismatched non-gilt screws; dial with scattered light hls, small edge chip at 2, small flake at upper rim of seconds-register, very small fine scratch left of center; fine hands, hour with mild oxide to spade, seconds-hand is a smaller sized replacement; case shows ample wear, scattered dings and nicks, reduced engine turning detail with full loss of rear shoulder and visible remainder being quite light, spots of wear to brass to pendant, wear to brass to reeding of band as well as to ridges of bezel and rear perimeter; tight brassy bow, crown shows medium wear; glass crystal with many scattered scratches.
ESTIMATE:
$1000
-
$2000
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