DESCRIPTION:
APW - Elgin, Grade 149, 20J, 18S, heavy 14K gold box hinge drum style original C.W.Mfg.Co. HC with beautiful engraving detail, initials to front, gold cuvette, fancy white enamel SS impressed dial with blue numerals, two shades of gold foil decorations, blue, green and red glass insets around center and silver foil dots around center, fancy gilt Louis XV style hands, SW-LS, fully capped lever escapement, ornate nickel damascene, s#6348209. Gross weight of assembled watch 94.1 dwt (146.7 g). An exquisitely beautiful watch throughout, ranking among the absolute finest of 18 size box hinge gold cases we have had the pleasure to handle. The movement of this example is also of note, as the total production of this 20 jewel version of the Grade 149 is believed to be only approximately 1000 made as all 20 jewel examples we are aware of have been within this grade's first production run.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, nearly mint cosmetic mvt condition overall, bright lustrous surfaces with few micro-fine scratches; virtually flawless dial with a minuscule flake to upper rim of seconds-register hole, short micro-fine scratch below-right of center; nearly mint hands; case shows virtually no wear, one tiny nick to upper-right perimeter of front which is evident as viewed from inner surface of lid but with negligible visibility to outer surface, exquisite crisp engraving detail, case front and rear open slightly short of 90 degrees (to approximately 80 degrees and 85 degrees respectively), cuvette hinge pin is protruding a bit at one side; tight bow, crown shows little wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$2800
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$3600
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