Watch Servicing, Restoration & Repair
My good friend David gave me this Elgin 16S Grade 312 Pocket Watch for a service and a bit of TLC. It was manufactured by Elgin which was an American company based in Illinois. I was able to date the production to 1921 from the serial number. This would have been a very good quality watch (and expensive at the time). The case is 9 carat solid gold.
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This week I am featuring the restoration of this Zenith Pocket watch, belonging to my wife’s uncle.
The watch dates from the early 1900’s. It was in quite a sorry state, barely running, and missing the minute hand, and most of the hour hand. The glass was also missing. However the dial and case were in remarkably good condition, making this watch an ideal candidate for a light restoration.
Oliver sent me this lovely pocket watch for a service. It is in a silver case, and has a chronograph complication, with a centre seconds chrono hand and 30 minute register. There is also a seconds subdial at 6 o’clock.
The case and movement have a matching serial number, so it is nice to know that the movement is original to the watch.
After studying the hallmarks on the silver case, I was able to identify the marks of the London assay office used in 1913-1914, so the watch would have been produced around that time. The “sponsors mark” belongs to George Stockwell, who was an importer of cases and watches during that era.
This Waltham pocket watch required a service and crystal replacement. It was running, but not very well at all, timekeeping was out by several minutes a day and the balance wheel had very poor amplitude.
It was approximately 81 years old at the time of writing: Production dated year 1936, according to the Waltham “Gray Book” List.
The watch is in very good condition given its age. It is cased in a gold filled case by British maker Dennison. This particular case is made of a base metal sandwiched between two plates of 0.036mm thick 9 carat gold. It is their “star” grade which at the time was guaranteed for 10 years. The quality of the plating by Dennison has stood the test of time as it is still in good condition, with very little base metal visible.
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