DESCRIPTION:
APW - E. Howard & Co, Boston, Series V, 15J, L-S (just under 15S), extraordinarily heavy 18K gold original HC marked for retailer Critzer Bros. of San Antonio, Texas, beautifully detailed enamel inlaid Masonic insignia within front and rear lids, front having black and red Knights Templar symbol and "In Hoc Signo Vinces" (Latin for "In this sign thou shalt conquer") marking, rear having a black keystone pendant marked with Royal Arch Mason acronym "H.T.W.S.S.T.K.S." (Hiram, Tyrian, Widow's Son, Sent to King Solomon), gold cuvette, glazed mvt observation cover, white enamel SS dial, umbrella style primary hands in combination with a very unusual set of red time-zone style hands set with minute hand approximately 40 minutes behind primary hand, SW-SS, nickel damascene, s#61559. Gross weight of assembled watch 147.8 dwt (229.9 g). Gross weight of case only with movement removed 113.3 dwt (176.2 g). A stunningly large and heavy gold cased Howard, this behemoth is not only by far the heaviest gold cased Howard we have had the pleasure to handle in our firm's history but is also the heaviest gold American case of any make we have handled. The case is of notably massive construction throughout with thick heavy lids and a broad band that measures a bit over 58mm diameter, and with the movement removed the case weight is in excess of six avoirdupois ounces weighing in at 6.22 avoirdupois ounces, or 5.67 troy ounces. The watch is made further interesting by its spectacular enamel inlaid Masonic imagery within its case and by its unusual time-zone hands. Watch comes as received with a leather pouch marked "Compliments of Oxford Hotel, Hearne, Texas." In all, a fantastic piece for either the Howard collector, the Masonic collector, the lover of gold ... or for a collector who loves any combination of the three!
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, bright lustrous surfaces, some typical fine to micro-fine scratches, oxide to regulator assembly; dial with hl between 4 and 5, hl below seconds-register at 6:30, perimeter hl at 10, short scrape above seconds-register, tiny edge nick under bezel at 4:30; excellent primary hands, some oxide to umbrella and tip of minute, fine time-zone hands have been overpainted red and have some red paint losses, hour with mild bend; case originally with two front lift springs but one is broken and the remaining spring is insufficient to press the weight of the lid open so lid must be manually lifted, remaining lift spring does hold partially against gravity allowing opened lid to tilt only approximately one-quarter to one-third back toward closed, case shows very little wear, some scattered scratches and surface nicks, profuse micro-fine scratches, shallow ding to lower rear perimeter, inner lid Masonic details are superb with all enameling fully intact; tight bow, crown shows medium wear with ridge break; good glass crystals.
ESTIMATE:
$8000
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$11000
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