1908 Waltham "Offset" Trench/WW1 Watch,

Creator: American Waltham Watch Co.
Case Material: Gold-filled
Strap Material: Leather
Case Shape: Round
Movement: Manual Wind
Case Dimensions: Height: 0.4 in (10 mm) Width: 1.23 in (31 mm) Diameter: 1.23 in (31 mm)
Style: Art Deco
Place of Origin: United States
Period: 1930-1939
Date of Manufacture: 1930
Condition: Good Replacements made: NOS Crystal Professionally refinished dial and hands. Repaired: Comprehensive Mechanical Cleaning. Polished. Wear consistent with age and use.


My shop was recently selected to supply vintage American watches for a premier movie starring some major actors and a world famous director. They were looking for authentic watches that would represent the time period from 1915-1926. It is a true story of events that took place during the 1920?s. The movie was Killers of The Flower Moon, I supplied many of the watches used in the movie for historical context. In addition, I was just selected to supply watches for a remake of a movie that first came out is 1936. That is happening right now
I have been an avid vintage watch collector for years. My soft spot is 1900-1935 American watches.
I have an active collection of about 60 pieces. I am constantly refining my collection as time ticks by.
The ones that I do not wear very much get sold for other watches that may be hard to find. All my watches for sale are in above average condition, some are pristine.
I pride myself in offering the best quality and reasonable prices. Remember, "Price is what you pay, value is what you get".
What an amazing offering I have for you. If you have me saved or are following me, you will realize that I have offered only one or two like this before First I want to share with you that this is a hard to find 3/0 size, plus it is a rare ?Hermetic? case design. Hermetic means the bezel and case back thread and unthread on and off. This is the crown jewel of this offering .
Think 1930, WW1 had 12 years of peace.
This has the offset crown in the corner of the case. I see this kind of watch once or twice a year. I see very few of these case as the years pass us by. Especially is the highly collectible B&B Royal Hermetic case.
This is a sublime offering. The quiet but elegant military shadow box Waltham dial supports the time period of this watch. This is a beautiful example of the early wrist period with an awesome twist of an offset ?Hermetic? case! It is a real treasure to own.
The elegant Military is coveted for its easy to read look, simplicity and invokes the early watch period from 1910 to 1930?s. It is a real treasure to find one that has not been damaged through the years
The case, read below for a definition, has done very well over the years. I look long and hard and usually pay a high premium for cases that are in great condition.
This is the hard to find B&B Royal YGF 3/0 sized case size.
Some Manufacturer History
Bates and Bacon: A Brief History
Joseph M. Bates entered into a partnership with George M. Bacon in Attleboro, MA in 1868. Bates' history prior to that is recounted in an excerpt from an 1894 History of Attleboro, posted by Robert Sweet. Bates and Bacon (B&B) started making gold watch cases in 1884. In 1901, B&B was bought out by the Philadelphia Watch Case Co., which in turn, became part of the Keystone Watch Case Co. Nevertheless, the B&B name and the names of some of their gold-filled case grades continued to be used, and guarantees on B&B cases continued to be honored by Philadelphia.
Factory Destroyed
In May 1898 a fire started in a leased shop within the B&B factory building. It quickly spread, destroying B&Bs factory and eighteen other firms in adjoining buildings. A new building went up quickly, being ready for occupancy by August. B&Bs Chicago manager was able to boast about the new factory, modern machinery and a expected continuation of good business for the following year.
The Snap Bezel Dust Proof Case
One unusual design of case that B&B marketed was a Snap Bezel Dust Proof Case, available as early as 1885 and promoted for railroad service. The movement is fastened to a ring bearing a pendant having a square section. This assembly then fits into a cupped back, having a square notch to receive the pendant. A snap bezel completes the case.
The watch measures:
9 o?clock to 3 o?clock 30.50MM
From lug to lug 40MM
This is what I have completed on the watch
Total tear down mechanical service
New Crystal
Case hand polished
Dial professionally refinished
Hands are New Old Waltham Stock.
New black Trench Watch open ended watch band
What is a ?Trench Watch?
Dial was professionally refinished to highlight the vintage appearance
What are WW1 or Trench watches? They were created using 3/0 and 0 size pocket watch movements and installing into watch cases that were meant to worn on the wrist. This is a hard to find 3/0 watch movement.
They often have some of the following characteristics:
Fixed or Wire Lug: No traditional spring bar attachment as found in today?s watches.
Case Material: It or often Solid Gold / Sterling Silver or 925 / Silverode or Gold Filled.. The case lid snaps snug on the case. This is a high polished B&B Royal yellow gold filled case. one of my favorites for their construction quality and design.
*For more practical purposes, a special alloy was developed which went by several different names, such as, "Silveroid, Silverore, Silverode or Silverine. "Silveroid" appears to have become the standard name for this metal that consisted of 45% nickel, 54% copper and 1% manganese. This metal was fairly hard wearing and could withstand the rigors of everyday use, for instance on the Railroads.
Case Manufactures: There were many case manufacturers that made cases for Trench Watches. Some of the more well know were: Fortune, Depollier and Sons, Dennison {English Manufacturer} Illinois (not affiliated with the Illinois Watch Company) Depollier and Sons, Wadsworth, Fahys, Philadelphia and many more
This style of watch represents the epitome of the WW1/ Trench Watch era of timepieces. To the bold elegant Military Shadow Box dial, it is elegant, understated and timeless.
Grade: No. 361
Manufacturer:Waltham
Manufacturer Location:Waltham, Massachusetts
Movement Serial Number:27152521
Grade:No. 361
Model:1907
Estimated Production Year:1930
Run Quantity:3,000
Grade/Model Run:90 of 104
Grade/Model Total Production:817,001
Size:3/0s
Jewels:7j
Movement Configuration:Hunting
Movement Finish:Nickel
Movement Setting:Pendant
Plate:3/4 Plate
Hairspring:Breguet

See Description