DESCRIPTION:
APW - Illinois, Grade 105, 15J, Model 2, 18S, heavy 14K gold (tested) drum style box hinge HC recase, gold cuvette, white enamel DS dial, transitional style SW-LS with retained KW arbor, nickel damascene, s#500541. Gross weight of assembled watch 95.9 dwt (149.3 g). A scarce to rare watch, the Grade 105 was Illinois' finest movement of the 1880s by a wide margin and was offered at an original retail price of $100, a quite substantial sum in that era. These were the first Illinois watches with a Breguet overcoil hairspring and in addition to this notable feature these movements were superbly finished with gold jewel settings, gold balance screws, gold banking pins, gold cups on the winding escutcheon and the regulator, mirrored steelwork, a beveled and polished inner edge to the barrel bridge, and an ornate nickel damascene. Selections from the collection of Tom McIntyre. Mr. McIntyre's website contains stories on many of the watches which can be found here: https://awco.org?collid=300
CONDITION:
Mvt: NR, fully wound and will tick weakly if given some excess pressure on the crown and a twist, overhaul needed, fine cosmetic mvt condition overall, plates with some clouding of nickel tone, some scattered small spots; dial with small patched chip to lower right corner of center section, outer chapter hls at 12 and 6, very small fracture tight along right-side perimeter of center section between 2 and 3, seconds-register possibly re-pasted as evidenced by some white material visible at a portion of its perimeter junction; excellent hour and seconds-hand, fine minute hand with oxide and finish loss to its outer portion; case shows little wear, some shallow dents and dings to front and rear; tight bow, crown shows little wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$2400
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$3400
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