DESCRIPTION:
APW - Waltham, bridge model, 23J, 12S, 18K gold OF original Dennison Watch Case Co. case bearing Birmingham hallmarks for 1909, gold cuvette, white enamel SS dial, SW-SS, fully capped lever escapement, diamond endstones on balance and escape wheel, jeweled barrel, circular pattern nickel damascene, mvt marked "Made In U.S.A." to dial plate below balance wheel, s#20024821. Gross weight of assembled watch 44.6 dwt (69.3 g). This 23 jewel version of the 12 size bridge model movement is extremely rare, as the vast majority of 12 size bridge model production was instead 21 jewel movements that were made with either "American Watch Co." grade signature or made under contract to Howard. This is only the second example of the 23 jewel 12 size bridge model we have seen and is identical to the other in being an apparent English export product with movement simply marked "23 Jewels" and "Made In U.S.A.."
CONDITION:
Mvt: Ticking when wound but likely broken mainspring as it does not reach full tension and is audibly slipping with every several turns of the crown, fine-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, scattered fine to micro-fine scratches, oxide to portions of regulator spring, some oxide spots to winding wheels, mvt lettering has lost its black coloring; dial with light hl below seconds-register near 7; fair hands, minute with finish loss throughout, seconds-hand with oxide and finish loss, hour with ample finish loss; case shows medium wear, fine scratches to cuvette from slipped past openings, two dents to center rear, cuvette with crease type dent toward upper-right perimeter, front hinge missing one end-cap; tight bow, crown shows ample wear and has lost its jacket (outer layer); plastic crystal with fine to micro-fine scratches.
ESTIMATE:
$1400
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$2000
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