Photo Credit: utamaro
1880s Illinois Pocket Watch with Dueber Gold Double Hunter Case
Asking Price: $1,000
Pros:
-This magnificent antique Illinois pocket watch from the 1880s features a solid 14 karat gold double hunter case by Dueber.
-Although the seller does not give the dimensions of the watch, we know that size 8 pocket watch movements measure 1.43 inches (36.4 mm) in diameter. Inclusive of both the movement and case, the watch weighs 76.1 grams.
-The Illinois Watch Company was founded in 1867 in its eponymous state. Like many watch companies, it branched out into wristwatch production in the 1910s. In 1927, the firm was purchased by a competitor, the Hamilton Watch Company. The Great Depression soon prompted Hamilton to close the Illinois factory. As a result, the last "true" Illinois watch was released in 1938.
-This 1880s Illinois pocket watch is housed in a gloriously period-correct, solid 14 karat gold Dueber watch case. Dueber (also known as Dueber-Hampden) was known for making watch cases of widely varying materials, including base metal, coin silver, sterling silver, gold filled, 10 karat gold, 14 karat gold and 18 karat gold.
-This antique Illinois pocket watch has a 7-jewel, size 8, grade 151 movement, with an estimated manufacturing date of 1881.
-A double hunter pocket watch case is hinged on both sides to accommodate two protective metal covers: one for the front "dial side" of the watch and the other for the back "movement side". These exterior metal covers were often beautifully engraved or otherwise decorated. Double hunter watch cases were invariably more expensive than open face or full hunter watches because they used more metal and required more work to decorate.
-An old $150 promissory note dated 1895 accompanies the watch, which was most likely collateral for the note. $150 was a massive sum of money in 1895, and would have been equal to seven and a half U.S. double eagle gold coins, each one containing nearly a full troy ounce of pure gold. This would roughly be the equivalent of taking a $15,000 loan against your prized solid-gold Rolex today.
-This Illinois pocket watch is superbly engraved on both sides of its 14 karat gold Dueber case with a fanciful scene of flowers, sea monsters and fountains. Seriously, this is some of the finest engraving work I've seen on a Victorian era watch (or anything else for that matter). In addition, the case is not monogrammed, which is a real bonus for some antique collectors.
-Although it is difficult to estimate with any degree of precision, it is almost a certainty that this Illinois pocket watch contains several hundred dollars worth of gold. This reduces the investment risk associated with buying the watch, although it would be a pity to scrap such an impressive piece.
-Given this watch's wonderful engraving, solid gold case and good condition, I believe that the $1,000 ($1,165 with servicing) asking price is easily justified.
Solid 14K & 18K Gold Illinois & Hampden Pocket Watches For Sale
Cons:
-Although the seller claims the case for this Illinois pocket watch is solid 14 karat gold, there is the possibility that it is only 10 karat gold. According to an 1888 advertisement in this forum post, the specific trademark used on this watch refers to solid 10 karat gold cases. While I don't normally recommend investing in antiques made from anything less than 14 karat gold, I do make exceptions for extraordinary pieces or unusual situations. This is one of those exceptional times. In addition, 19th century technical references are notoriously inaccurate. So I believe that the exact gold content of the case is still an open question.
-The seller is offering to fully service this Illinois pocket watch for an extra $165, which is a very reasonable price. However, I am uncomfortable with the idea that the seller would consider shipping the watch to a customer without servicing it first, leaving it in potentially non-working condition. I would prefer that the seller simply service the watch and then adjust the asking price upwards to compensate.
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