Waltham 14kt White Gold Art

Creator: Waltham
Case Material: 18k Gold, White Gold
Movement: Manual Wind
Style: Art Deco
Place of Origin: United States
Period: 1920-1929
Date of Manufacture: 1926
Condition: Excellent Wear consistent with age and use. It is worth noting that this watch only had a 12-month warranty when it was new. However, we are so confident of our workmanship and team that we offer an 18-month warranty on all our watches, even those over 100 years old.


FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tonneau Shape
METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt White Gold
CIRCA / YEAR: 1926
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 28mm X Diameter 34mm
MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 17 Jewels / Caliber 6/0
DIAL / HANDS: Original Silvered with Applied Arabic Numerals / Original Blued Steel Hands
ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Original Leather Strap, 16 mm / Regular Length
WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement
This is a "vault find" watch, it has been locked up for nearly 50 years, which means it needs a service. We will give it a factory quality service by our finest watchmaker as part of the purchase price before it is shipped out to you. This will delay shipping for a few days of course.
What a great watch this is. We never see watches this old and still with what appears to be the original strap still on it. Unfortunately you cannot really use it, because it is dried out and will crack after a few days use. However, it does indicate condition and use as well. This watch is entirely hand made and you can see by the detail in the movement that it is a finely crafted watch. Every detail on this watch is exceptional. The dial, original and untouched still has its silvered finish on it and the numbers are done is solid gold and applied individually. The hands are original as well and done in blued steel by heating them to 750 degrees Fahrenheit. It appears also that the crown is original as well. Consider it an opportunity to wear this nearly 100 year old watch and use it and count on it to get you there on time, every time. You will never see another watch like this, in this condition.
Through the American civil war and two World Wars, and beyond, Walthams legacy and spirit lives on in this wonderful watch. It is truly a representation of the idea of American Exceptionalism. The wonderfully crafted design is timeless. Even after 100 years or more, this watch can dependably be worn, used and counted on to get you there on time, every time. It is versatile enough to be worn for all types of occasions and various clothes. Wear it with a suit or even for more casual occasions but, certainly, feel confident that you are wearing a piece of history.
The Waltham Watch Company was an American watch manufacturing house founded in 1850 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. It was the first American company to mass-produce watches using interchangeable parts. The companys watches were known for their quality and affordability, and they quickly became popular with consumers. Waltham played a major role in the development of the American watch industry as well as establishing the concept of ?mass produced? products.
By the way, Henry Ford was a watchmaker, and he was inspired to build cars the same way Waltham Watches were produced, for the masses with interchangeable parts.
Waltham?s success helped to make the United States a major player in the global watch market as well as promote the idea of ?industrialization.? Before the Waltham Watch Company, watches were generally produced by hand, in ?cottage? industries. They were owned by the wealthier class or the ?working class? that needed to know the time. The companys affordable watches made them accessible to a wider range of people and helped to change the way people thought about time. Prior to this, people used their local Church bells to direct them in their daily lives.
The Company continued to grow and prosper throughout the 19th century. During the American Civil War, they supplied watches to the military, and of course they grew because of this association.
In 1885, they moved their headquarters to Waltham, Massachusetts, and changed their name to the American Waltham Watch Company.
Waltham was a major exhibitor at the 1893 Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The companys exhibit at the exposition was housed in a large pavilion that was designed to resemble a factory. The pavilion was filled with watches of all shapes and sizes, as well as machinery used in the manufacturing process. The exhibit was a major success, and it helped to raise the profile of Waltham watches around the world.
Amongst the visitors at the exhibition was a contingent from Switzerland. When they realized what Waltham was doing, they quickly understood that their methods were outdated and soon enough they would be a country unable to compete. They also went to the Waltham factory for a visit after the exhibition. It is said that they purchased a few of Waltham?s higher grade movements. The director of factory said he would have them ?adjusted? before they left, but they said, it was not necessary. When they arrived back in Switzerland, they checked them and were shocked at the level of quality and accuracy. This prompted them to buy some of the equipment that Waltham was using so they could start building better watches that were less expensive and more accurate.
Some of that machinery ended up in the small town of Schaffhausen and became The International Watch Company. They are still in business today making exceptional watches.
The military, for any nation, is a powerful source of revenue for industrial contracts. So, any industry would prosper during war and Waltham continued to be a supplier to the military for over 100 years. Through WW 1, WW 2 and the Korean war they designed timers, navigational devices, automobiles, aviation and nautical equipment.
The Waltham Watch Company, like many companies, inevitably went through a series of financial difficulties. During the 1920?s they almost went bankrupt because different departments were actually competing against each other for contracts. Some departments had made enough parts for watches to last 20 years. By then of course they would have been useless. There were several restructurings of the powerful entity but eventually in 1957, after producing about 40 million watches, the company was forced to close its doors. However, the companys legacy continues to live on. Waltham watches are still sought after by collectors and enthusiasts, and the companys history is an important part of the story of American manufacturing.

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