shape
carat
color
clarity

Another antique pocket watch

stracci2000

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
8,346
I guess I am fixated on antique guilloche. I found this sad broken watch on eBay for only $10.
It is pink enamel on 800 silver.
There is a date inside of July 30, 1912.
She was in bad shape, tarnished, missing a crystal, and not working. Shes been around!
Sadly, I couldn't get her to work, but I was able to fabricate a new crystal from the lid of a plastic gem jar.
Before:
IMG_20200430_174154.jpg IMG_20200430_174143.jpg
After:
IMG_20200430_173957.jpg IMG_20200430_171656052.jpg
 

lissyflo

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
May 23, 2016
Messages
1,719
That’s quite a makeover! How did you fix the chips in the guilloche? My eyes are usually caught by vivid green and blue guilloche watches but your baby pink is stunning after its refurb - it’s just beautiful against the silver.
 

Bron357

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 22, 2014
Messages
6,532
Very nice job. Love a rescue and refurb.
It will make a lovely pendant.
When stores open again, call into and see a proper watchmaker. They should be able to tell you in a minute or so if the movement is salvageable or not.
 

stracci2000

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
8,346
That’s quite a makeover! How you fix the chips in the guilloche? My eyes are usually caught by vivid green and blue guilloche watches but your baby pink is stunning after its refurb - it’s just beautiful against the silver.
I applied Tarn-X on the chipped areas with a Q-tip. Then I mixed pink and clean nail polish and dabbed it on with a toothpick. The lovely @Bron357 turned me onto this trick!
I am crazy about guilloche pocket watches and I have a small collection, all of which I had to restore, to some degree,
The first example is not guilloche, but a technique called basse-taille.
IMG_20200206_215249.jpg
IMG_20190713_164741.jpg This second example is so finely machined, it is amazingly beautiful. in real life! IMG_20190525_234341.jpg
IMG_20190525_234415.jpg IMG_20200327_132108920.jpg
IMG_20200327_131611143.jpg
1587939946845.png
 

stracci2000

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
8,346
I found yet another ladies pocket watch on eBay. This one had guilloche enameling on the face.
There was a bit of chipping on the case, but a tiny dab of blue nail polish did the trick!
This new one is an American watch, made by the New England Watch Co. Waterbury CT. This model was made 1898-1914
IMG_20200724_085057.jpg IMG_20200724_085023.jpg

And here's the whole family...so far! Only two of them work. They are all sterling.
IMG_20200724_085855721.jpg
IMG_20200724_085820218.jpg
 
Last edited:

lissyflo

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
May 23, 2016
Messages
1,719
Your collection is absolutely beautiful! Do you tend to wear them as brooches or on chains, or are they purely for viewing pleasure?
 

stracci2000

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
8,346
Your collection is absolutely beautiful! Do you tend to wear them as brooches or on chains, or are they purely for viewing pleasure?

I wear them as pendants.
I wore one a few times on my winter coat last year. They are heavy, and work best on heavy material, so they are not very versatile as pins.
 

YadaYadaYada

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 2, 2016
Messages
11,841
I used to live in Waterbury! What a pretty watch, I love the decoration on it.
 

stracci2000

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
8,346
I used to live in Waterbury! What a pretty watch, I love the decoration on it.

When I looked up the serial number, and found out this watch was made in Waterbury CT, I thought of you right away! And you used to live there......so funny!
 

kgizo

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Dec 14, 2009
Messages
2,603
Amazing collection! The new one is so beautiful. Glad you are saving and restoring Them.
 

stracci2000

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
8,346
Another Ebay find!
This was sold as "silver tone"
Of course it's not. This one is .935 sterling, Swiss made, probably 1920s-30s.
I had to retouch some of the numbers.
I used my thumbnail as a palette.
IMG_20200801_100536.jpg IMG_20200731_163502.jpg IMG_20200731_163518.jpg IMG_20200801_094244.jpg IMG_20200801_100551.jpg IMG_20200801_094631.jpg
 
Last edited:

YadaYadaYada

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 2, 2016
Messages
11,841
You find the best watches! I'm also impressed with your restoration, it looks good as new. How about a group shot of your collection so far?
 

Eclectic

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 12, 2020
Messages
62
Wow these are beautiful and I am so glad you got them back to wearable. I also have to admit your ebay game is strong. I hope you find and rescue more!
 

stracci2000

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
8,346
Wow these are beautiful and I am so glad you got them back to wearable. I also have to admit your ebay game is strong. I hope you find and rescue more!

I only look at watches that are in my price range, which is under $50.
I might go up to $70, if I cannot live without a particular item, but that has only happened a few times in the several years.
I can't resist a sad, lonely, broken item that needs some love.
 
Be a part of the community Get 3 HCA Results
Top