DESCRIPTION:
APW - Columbus, Railway King, 23J, 18S, gold-filled OF swingout recase with attractive engine turning and engraving detail to rear, white enamel DS dial, SW-LS, fully capped lever escapement, jeweled barrel arbor, nickel damascene, s#503222. An attractive example of this rare watch, the total production of 23 jewel open face Columbus movements is believed to be 360 made per Greg Frauenhoff and John Dimar's excellent article in the June 2003 NAWCC Bulletin. Of this total, it appears the much larger majority were signed "Columbus King" rather than being signed "Columbus Railway King" as the present example, as of the twenty-five examples noted by serial number in the article there are twenty-three "Columbus King" as compared to only two "Columbus Railway King."
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, winds somewhat stiffly, nearly mint cosmetic mvt condition overall, bright lustrous surfaces with few micro-fine scratches; dial with light outer chapter hl at 2:20, tiny surface nick to inner rim of outer chapter at 10:30, few minuscule pinpoint surface nicks elsewhere; excellent hour and seconds-hand, fine minute hand with ample finish loss and some oxide to tip; case shows very light wear, no dents or dings, engraving detail with mild reduction, spots of wear to brass to pendant; tight bow, crown shows medium wear; good thick glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$600
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$1000
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