DESCRIPTION:
APW - Edward Howard, by Howard Keystone, 23J with distinctive blue sapphire jeweling, free-sprung balance with special fine adjustment weights mounted on balance spars, 16S, heavy 18K gold original Howard case with Jürgensen-style lips and five-knuckle hinges, gold cuvette with ornate signature ring and matching mvt s#, "Edward Howard" marked white enamel SS dial, SW-SS, free-sprung balance with gold and platinum timing weights, frosted tear-shaped cap settings on balance and escape wheel, wolf's tooth winding with frosted and mirror finish wheels, frosted gilt mvt, s#75 with matching serial number engraved to case cuvette. This example notably comes with its original fitted wooden Edward Howard box which contains the original serial number 75 certificate noting the sales price of $350 as well as an additional stamping in red for a $17.50 "5% War Tax." Box also contains a "Suggestions for care of Howard Watch" insert, and in the space beneath the watch in the box there is a compartment which contains an additional mainspring and an additional crystal, each wrapped in paper. Gross weight of assembled watch 66.2 dwt (103.0 g). Introduced in 1912 and priced at the lofty sum of $350 retail, the "Edward Howard" was E. Howard Watch Co.'s flagship product and made a conspicuous entry into the elite market niche. In total it is believed that approximately 300 examples (if not a bit less) of the Edward Howard were produced, and examples we have encountered have spanned serial numbers ranging from the mid 2-digit range up to the low 300s. The present example is notable for the presence of its original box and certificate of which the survival rate appears to be fairly low based on examples we've seen. An interesting feature of the present movement we believe worthy of mention is that the movement attaches to the case via tabs under the case bezel, with no case screws or provision for case screws seen from the back side of the movement. This arrangement appears to be found among only some of the low serial numbered Edward Howard examples, as we have observed serial numbers 62, 66 and 74 to be of this same style, but serial number 82 and all examples we have seen at higher serial numbers than this have had the more common (and in this cataloger's opinion, less visually elegant) design with case screws accessible from the rear.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, fine-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, excellent plates with few small micro-fine scratches, larger winding wheel with perpendicular micro-fine scratch striations from past light sanding, remainder of steelwork with few scattered small bits of oxide; dial with few very faint hls; nearly mint hands; case shows little wear, very shallow crease type dent to rear and few soft dings to rear creating rippling of reflection, ding to band near 3, scattered small nicks elsewhere to band; tight bow, crown shows little wear; good glass crystal; box in excellent cosmetic condition overall though with spiderweb crazing of its lacquered finish to top portion and to lower portion of front.
ESTIMATE:
$10000
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$18000
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