Waltham 14Kt. Solid Gold Art

Creator: Waltham
Style: Art Deco
Place of Origin: United States
Period: 1910-1919
Date of Manufacture: 1910
Condition: Excellent Wear consistent with age and use.


FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Military Campaign Style
METAL / MATERIAL: 14kt Solid Gold
CIRCA YEAR: 1910
DIMENSIONS: 30mm X 28mm
MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 15 Jewels
DIAL / HANDS: Original Silvered with Arabic Luminous Numerals / Blued Steel Luminous Hands
ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Alligator 14mm / Regular Length
WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement.
This classic American Military Style watch is actually 110 years old and can still be worn all the time and counted on. The watch and case are entirely hand constructed. The movement, beautifully finished has jewels set into bushings and beautifully damascened plates. This watch was made in the great era of American Watchmaking and you can actually wear this watch every day and count on it to get you there on time.
Through the American civil war and two World Wars, and beyond, Walthams legacy and spirit lives on in this wonderful vintage 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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