My collection of antique diamond watches... pics!

[LGK]

I have a habit of collecting antique diamond watches; they're something you can sometimes get a freaking STEAL on on eBay. I wear them all the time. I'm NEVER afraid to overdress, especially to work. I work at an antique mall, and we do sell some estate jewelry, so I think it helps sell it when people see me wear it.

I bought this one from doverjewelry off eBay last year. I adore it, it's my favorite by far. It has 2 carats of antique cut diamonds, some full cut some single cut, and the hand engraving is beautiful. The millgrain is soooo tiny, and it is in perfect, perfect shape. It makes you realize just how worn a lot of antique millgrain is. I think this watch was barely worn, which makes me afraid to wear it much because I'll probably hurt it. I still do though! The movement is marked Royce and the metal is platinum. I'm thinking this is c.1920s, it's so thoroughly Art Deco.

 

[LGK]

Bottom of band.

 

[LGK]

The side is hand engraved.

 

[LGK]

It looks a lot more delicate in person, more like it does in this picture.

 

[LGK]

This is one that is a ''40s (or even possibly ''50s) platinum watch with movement by Kent; I like this one but I wish the original bracelet was still attached, it has a stretchy metal one on it and I bet it was a black cloth one originally. No idea what the cttw is.

 

[LGK]

Last one I've bothered to photograph; this one has a bracelet that goes all the way around the wrist, with diamonds all down it (a lot don't, the other two I have on this thread don't, for example). The cool thing is, this one has a tiny tiny TINY St. Christopher sterling medal on the clasp, from the original owner. No idea what the cttw on this one is either; it is 14K white gold. Hampden Swiss movement.

 

[Skippy123]

Thoes watches are so beautiful!!!

Thanks for sharing your amazing watch collection

 

[somethingshiny]

I love them all! I''m trying to get a bracelet that looks very similar to your first watch.

 

[jewelerman]

Thanks for sharing your fun collection!

 

[Ellen]

Love your watches, thanks for sharing!

Old things are so neat.

 

[Catmom]

Your watches are amazing! I''m in love with them all.

Thank you so much for sharing them with us.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

Exquisite watches - I love antique watches.

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 1/19/2008 10:24:42 AM
Author: Madam Bijoux
Exquisite watches - I love antique watches.

HI:

Ditto!

cheers--Sharon

 

[Sparkalicious]

Beautiful watches! I can imagine that they might draw interest ... they must be lovely in person.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Oh wow, I love them all! Those are very pretty, I can see why you collect them!

 

[CdnBlingGal]

Those are gorgeous!

 

[LGK]

Aww, thanks everyone! It''s fun to see other folks who enjoy sparkly stuff- most of my friends think I''m fully insane.

 

[coatimundi_org]

Your collection is beautiful!

 

[FireGoddess]

They''re really just stunning! Do you have any tips on ebaying when it comes to antique watches? I would be so afraid of getting ''taken.'' But it seems like a great way to acquire these pieces!

 

[metro]

Holy cow, your collection is amazing!

 

[Gemma12]

WOW! They are beautiful, thanks for sharing!

 

[LGK]

FireGoddess, most of them I paid around $200 or a bit less for, with the exception of the 1st one. Usually my tactic is to search "diamond watch vintage" and "diamond watch antique" in all categories, and "diamond watch" inside the vintage/antique category. Oh, and "platinum diamond watch" is a good one too. Then weed through the crap, then bid on about 5 for every 1 I win- I just bid my top amount and soon enough you''ll get lucky, especially with the ones you had to search hard to find with no good keywords. I have maybe 4 others not posted here, some at least as nice.

I have not yet had one not as described; I only bid on ones that the seller says can run. Of course you follow typical ebay common sense- established sellers, good feedback, lalala. I will probably get screwed eventually nevertheless, but so far so good... typically I assume that for every 10 purchases I''ll get burned on 1. (Usually I purchase French Art Deco glass like Verlys, Lalique, D''Avesn, etc, and it is usually every 10th piece that isn''t as described; DH & I tend to figure it into our bid amounts, and if it is coming from France we ASSUME it is chipped!) I haven''t bought any watches recently I have to admit.

There is one major catch to collecting diamond watches. You HAVE to have a small wrist, 6-6.5 inches. Mine is a bit over 6.5, and I''m usually OK with the 6.5in ones, just not much slack, you know? A 7 inch wrist band on an antique watch is a rare, rare thing. I have tried to resell one or two of mine at the antique mall I work at; having those in a showcase was like having Cinderella''s slipper! Tough to resell...

The nice thing about collecting them is that they''re not real popular, thus the good pickins, and they aren''t being reproduced today so all are definitely old.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 1/22/2008 2:54:10 AM
Author: LittleGreyKitten

There is one major catch to collecting diamond watches. You HAVE to have a small wrist, 6-6.5 inches. Mine is a bit over 6.5, and I''m usually OK with the 6.5in ones, just not much slack, you know? A 7 inch wrist band on an antique watch is a rare, rare thing.

And that is exactly my problem....my wrist isn''t that small, which is why I gawk and drool at these watches but still don''t own one. *sigh*

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Beautiful watches!