Mid-19th Century Watches

NAMED ONE OF WATCHPRO MAGAZINE’S “HOT 100” - THE TOP 100 INFLUENCERS OF THE U.S. WATCH INDUSTRY. HOW CAN WE SERVE YOU? We’re new to offering our carefully curated collection on 1stD...

NAMED ONE OF WATCHPRO MAGAZINE’S “HOT 100” - THE TOP 100 INFLUENCERS OF THE U.S. WATCH INDUSTRY. HOW CAN WE SERVE YOU? We’re new to offering our carefully curated collection on 1stDibs, but we have sold over 10,000 fine watches and exceptionally served thousands of customers with a 5.0 star rating. 1863 American Watch Co. / Waltham CIVIL WAR 18 Size Pocket Watch - Same Model Given to Abraham Lincoln Highly Collectible - Same Model Given to President Lincoln - 1 Year Warranty One of the iconic American pocket watch companies was American Watch Co., later known as Waltham for the city in which it was founded. In 1860, as President Abraham Lincoln was elected, the country was in Civil War. Production ground to a halt. However, the company decided to downsize to the lowest possible level to keep the factory open. It worked: In honor of his Gettysburg Address, President Lincoln became the proud owner of a Waltham Model 1857 "Wm. Ellery" pocket watch, the same model offered here today. President Lincoln's watch was made in January 1863. What's remarkable is that according to the company's handwritten ledger, this Waltham Model 1857 "Wm. Ellery" watch, the same model given to President Lincoln, was made in a run of watches made from December 1862 through January 1863. Nearly a couple of dozen Civil War Walthams have passed through our halls over the years, but this is the closest production date to Lincoln's we have ever had - the very same month! (see a photo of the page below). Here is a little more about it... * Heavy silver hunting case with a shield type motif on the front and nicely decorated case band in excellent condition. Many of these had plain case bands. * Original porcelain dial * Large 18 size, measuring 54.5mm in diameter * Key wound movement with winding key * Engine has a diamond end stone protecting the most import pivot * All original parts with original and correct Waltham case. The American Watch Co. marking of this example's case has a delightful simple charm and is something that we don't recall ever seeing before. When this watch was being crafted in late 1862 and early 1863, the United States was in the firm grip of the Civil War. In December 1862, the nation reeled from the devastating Battle of Fredericksburg (December 11–15, 1862), where Union forces under Major General Ambrose Burnside suffered a crushing defeat against Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s entrenched army. The staggering loss — more than 12,000 Union casualties — sent shockwaves through the North, dampening morale as winter set in. Meanwhile, in the White House, President Abraham Lincoln was preparing to take one of the boldest steps in American history. On January 1, 1863, just weeks after Fredericksburg, the Emancipation Proclamation took effect, declaring enslaved people in Confederate-held territories to be free. Though its immediate impact was limited geographically, it transformed the war into a moral crusade against slavery and ensured that any hope of foreign intervention on behalf of the Confederacy would be politically untenable. In daily life, both Union and Confederate citizens endured shortages, inflation, and uncertainty. Railroads carried troops and supplies through snow-covered landscapes, factories churned out arms and uniforms, and newspapers across the country carried news from the front. Against this turbulent backdrop, skilled watchmakers in the North continued to produce fine timepieces — practical necessities for soldiers, railroad men, and civilians alike. A watch made in these months would have ticked through a turning point in American history, keeping time as the nation’s course shifted toward freedom and eventual reunification. One of our Master Watchmakers has disassembled the watch down to its last screw and serviced it making it ready for immediate enjoyment. Kindly note that these were not highly jeweled watches...

NAMED ONE OF WATCHPRO MAGAZINE’S “HOT 100” - THE TOP 100 INFLUENCERS OF THE U.S. WATCH INDUSTRY. HOW CAN WE SERVE YOU? We’re new to offering our carefully curated collection on 1stDibs, but we have sold over 10,000 fine watches and exceptionally served thousands of customers with a 5.0 star rating. 1862 Waltham CIVIL WAR 18 Size Pocket Watch with Soldier Provenance - Same Model Given to Abraham Lincoln Highly Collectible - Same Model Given to President Lincoln - 1 Year Warranty One of the iconic American pocket watch companies was American Watch Co., later known as Waltham for the city in which it was founded. In 1860, as President Abraham Lincoln was elected, the country was in Civil War. Production ground to a halt. However, the company decided to downsize to the lowest possible level to keep the factory open. It worked: Upon his Gettysburg Address, President Lincoln became the proud owner of a Waltham Model 1857 "Wm. Ellery" pocket watch, the same model offer here today. President Lincoln's watch - made in January 1863 - resides in the collection of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian. According to the company's handwritten ledger, this Waltham Model 1857 "Wm. Ellery" watch, the same model given to President Lincoln, was made in August 1862, only a few months before President Lincoln's watch (see a photo of the page below). But our Waltham offered today is far from an "ordinary" collectable Civil War era Waltham. It is one owned by a Civil War participant with full provenance and is engraved with his regiment information. The inside of the back is crudely inscribed "Wm. E. Jewett Co "K" Oct. 4th 18622, 87th Regt. OVI." And the cuvette is crudely inscribed "Jewett." Mr. Jewett, a young man at the time, had more pressing concerns than how he inscribed his watch. William E. jewett is listed in the Civil War era roster of Ohio state troops as entering service with Company K of the Eighty-Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry on May 27th, 1862 at the age of 19 and serving for a term of 3 months before being mustered out with Company on October 3rd, 1862, which is notably a single day prior to the inscription within the watch case. Here is a little more about it... * Heavy silver hunting case with a shield type motif on the front * Original porcelain dial * Large 18 size, measuring 54mm in diameter * Key wound movement with winding key * Engine has a diamond end stone protecting the most import pivot * All original parts During the summer of August 1862, as this watch was being crafted in the workshop, the Civil War was reaching a pivotal moment—Union and Confederate forces clashed in the Second Battle of Bull Run (August 29–30). A crushing setback for the North, this defeat undercut morale in Washington and paved the way for Robert E. Lee’s Maryland Campaign. Just days earlier on August 9, Confederate troops had achieved another tactical victory at Cedar Mountain in Virginia, underscoring how high-stakes and unpredictable the Eastern Theater had become. By mid-September, General Lee had carried his Army of Northern Virginia across the Potomac into Maryland. On September 17, the Confederates met Union forces at Antietam, resulting in the bloodiest single day in American history with nearly 23,000 casualties. The Union tactical success there gave President Lincoln the political opportunity to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, fundamentally shifting the war’s meaning and global perception. By October 4, 1862—the exact day this watch was inscribed—the Battle of Galveston unfolded. In a naval operation, Union forces briefly secured Galveston, Texas, raising the U.S. flag over the city before Confederate forces ultimately recaptured it in early 1863. Meanwhile, in Kentucky, the Confederate Heartland Offensive (August 14–October 10) culminated in the Battle of Perryville on October 8, a fierce cavalry and infantry engagement that ended Lee’s ambitious campaign to wrest control of that critical border state. Servicing: One of our Master Watchmakers who specializes in antique pieces has disassembled it down to its last screw and serviced to make it ready for immediate enjoyment. Kindly note that these were not highly jeweled watches...

A Gold Emerald & Diamond Heart Shape Keywind Cylinder Full Hunter Pendant Watch C1840 Dial: The super white enamel dial with Roman numerals outer minute track with fine original blu...

Patek Philippe. A Rare and Unique Gold Keyless Lever Open Face Chronograph Date Pocket Watch C1868. Dial: The superb white enamel dial with Roman nu...

An antique fully functional 14K yellow gold Rolex women's winding watch. The band is flexible with a satin finish. All original buckle, bracelet, dial...

An extremely rare stainless steel Rolex Explorer. Featuring the highly sought after honeycomb dial by collectors. This stunning timepiece also features arabic number 3, 6 ,9 and a stainless steel bezel. Fitted with a plastic glass, a self-winding automatic movement and a steel riveted bracelet...

Victorian French key wound gold locket-watch by Boudin Freres circa 1850. * ABOUT THIS ITEM: #W1175. Scroll down for detailed specifications. This is an ea...

These watches were manufactured specifically to generate funds for the Swedish government during the war.   Original matte black colored dial looks fantastic. slight aging giving it even a better look. Very element, chic and understated watch that is perfect for black tie or a night out. The Omega Suveran ("Sovereign" in Swedish) is one such watch that deserves a closer look by the collector community and indeed, anyone with a glancing interest in the Second World War. This interesting model, produced by Omega exclusively for sale by the Swedish government, was used to partially fund the country's economy during the war. That's right: it's a sort of like a horological equivalent to war bonds. Here is a very rare Omega vintage watch.  This particular watch is a Swedish market World War 2 military style watch...

A pristine and classy dress watch from the early 60s. White face and gold dials This watch features the classic proportions, both in size and slimness, t...

Chatelaine with belt hook composed of three colors (green, pink, white) of intricately sculpted, matte gold. The piece is topped with a count's crown. This chatelaine was used to hang a pocket watch from the waist or jacket. It is made of two octagonal medallions. The largest, in the shape of a shield, in white, pink and green gold is decorated with shields, spears and helm. This Neogothic decor stands...

Chatelaine with belt hook in intricately sculpted, matte, pink gold. The piece is topped with a crown featuring pearls and semi-precious stones. Two coats of arms in multicolored ena...