DESCRIPTION:
APW - Illinois, Grade 181, 21J, 16S, very heavy 14K multicolor gold box hinge drum style HC recase with multicolor detail around front and rear shoulders, front with monogram initials, rear with 1884 date in monogram, hexagonal pendant, bow with chain guards, gold cuvette above glazed mvt observation cover, "Adams Street. Special." marked white enamel DS dial, fancy blued Loius XV style hands, SW-LS, fully capped lever escapement, bright spotted pattern nickel damascene, s#1309804. Gross weight of assembled watch 85.7 dwt (133.3 g). A very rare watch, the total production of this hunting case version of the Grade 181 was only 150 made. The "Adams Street Special" was a private label of Marshall Field & Co. of Chicago, Illinois, and a sizable portion of Grade 181 movements we have encountered have had this dial.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, fair cosmetic mvt condition overall, cloudy toning throughout plate surfaces which is muting the damascene appearance, some scattered fine and micro-fine scratches, few specks of oxide to regulator assembly and winding wheel, one mismatched case screw; dial with scattered fine surface scratches, few scattered faint hls, few tiny flakes around seconds-register hole; fine-plus hands, minute is a slightly lighter shade of blue; case shows hardly any wear, few small protruding dings to cuvette near center, excellent engraving detail, front lid closing with a sliver of gap to band; tight bow, crown shows light wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$2600
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$3400
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