DESCRIPTION:
APW - Illinois, Benjamin Franklin, 26J, 18S, gold-filled OF recase with attractive engine turning and engraving detail, white enamel DS dial, SW-LS, fully capped lever escapement, capped third wheel, jeweled barrel and jeweled barrel arbor, two-tone gilt and nickel checkerboard center pattern damascene, s#2019432. An extremely rare top grade watch, we believe the total production of this 26 jewel "Benjamin Franklin" to be only approximately 25 to 30 made. In total we believe that Illinois produced 270 of their 26 jewel movements with the Benjamin Franklin being the rarest of these by a wide margin and with the other two 26 jewel variants being marked "Bunn Special" (we believe approximately 90 to 110 made) and "Pennsylvania Special" (we believe approximately 135 to 150 made).
CONDITION:
Mvt: Ticking sluggishly on a full wind, overhaul recommended, fine cosmetic mvt condition overall, nickel portions of mvt with overall darkened toning, gilt portions with good color contrast to main plate and moderate color contrast to barrel bridge, much of barrel bridge perimeter with ultra-fine scratch striations from a past wiping which has reduced damascene detail in these areas (damascene detail in these portions remains visible in some lighting angles but is fully lost in others), some typical mild fine to micro-fine scratches elsewhere, few scattered mild small spots; dial with hl below seconds-register near 7, tiny flake to lower-left rim of seconds-register hole, some perimeter scrape under bezel between 5 and 6, tiny edge flakes under bezel near 8:30 and 11; fine hands, minute with ample finish loss; case shows light wear, dings to front of pendant, few small scattered nicks elsewhere, reduced engine turning and engraving detail; tight bow, brass replacement crown shows little wear; thick glass crystal with few scratches and edge nicks.
ESTIMATE:
$4000
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$6400
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