DESCRIPTION:
APW - Waltham, American Watch Co, Model 1872, 21J, 16S, 14K gold AWCo HC with attractive engraving and engine turning detail, front shield with initial, gold cuvette with 1886 presentation, white enamel SS dial, SW-LS, gold disk around balance jewel setting, nickel damascene, s#999995. Gross weight of assembled watch 78.1 dwt (121.4 g). Movement is marked "Woerd's Pat. Compensating Balance" and comes from a production run spanning serial numbers 999901 to 1000000 from which several examples are known with Woerd's sawtooth style balance wheel. The present example though, like the majority of examples we see from this run, does not have the sawtooth balance but rather has a high grade bi-metallic balance wheel of the more traditional form. The underside of its balance wheel spar (arm) is scribed with "95" correctly corresponding to the last two digits of the movement serial number. We believe this movement, like many from its production run, may have begun its existence with a sawtooth balance but was ultimately revised at the Waltham factory with a traditional high grade balance wheel.
CONDITION:
Mvt: NR, winding tension releases immediately when crown is let go of during winding suggesting a likely click and/or click spring issue, if crown is advanced without being allowed to release mainspring power the balance will tick weakly, setting lever must be held out to engage setting mechanism, overhaul needed, fine-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, small circular arrow marking scribed on plate surface around steel colored screw on main plate between larger winding wheel and balance cock, plates with some mild ultra-fine scratch striations likely from a past wiping, some bits of oxide to winding wheels; dial with light blue hl at 11:30, minuscule edge nick under bezel at 3:30; excellent hands; case lift spring is opening lid but is not contacting lid at proper position and is therefore allowing lid to tilt back somewhat with gravity, case shows very little wear, no dents or dings, engine turning and engraving detail with only mild reduction, rear hinge is missing an end-cap; tight bow, crown shows little wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$3000
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$5000
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