DESCRIPTION:
APW - Rockford, "Wathier's Superior Railway Chronometer, Chicago" marked mvt, 22J, 18S, gold-filled HC recase, "Wathier's Superior 22 Jewels" marked white enamel DS dial, SW-LS, fully capped lever escapement, jeweled barrel arbor, ornate two-tone gilt and nickel damascene, gilt mvt screws and regulator assembly, s#437114. A beautiful and very rare highly jeweled early movement, all examples of the 22 jewel "Wathier's Superior Railway Chronometer" we have seen have fallen within the 437101 to 437120 serial range suggesting a possible total production as low as 20 made.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, nearly mint cosmetic mvt condition overall, excellent two-tone color, some typical micro-fine scratches; excellent dial with very faint hl below seconds-register at 5, minuscule nick to lower-right rim of center hole, minuscule pinpoint flake to right perimeter of seconds-register; excellent hands, minute with slight bend; case shows light wear, cuvette with a long fine scratch from a slipped past opening, subtle soft ding to upper-center of rear that is more evident to inner surface of lid, mild ding to cuvette near center, reduced engraving detail, thin slivers of wear to brass to raised ridges of bezel and rear perimeter, scattered bits of wear to brass among front shield detail and rear floral detail, spots of wear to brass to areas of pendant, wear to brass to a sizable portion of cuvette exterior; tight bow, crown shows light wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$2000
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$3600
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