Waltham

Here's one of the more interesting wrist watches from Waltham. Rectangle in 14kt white gold double hinging case with articulating lugs. Highly engraved case manufactured by Solidarity Case Co. This is pictured in the 2018 Shugart/Engle ID book (page 656) with an estimated manufacture of 1928. Mine is dated 1931 on the personized engraving. Dial has no doubt been relumed. Has a 7-jewel movement. It's not unusual to find a low jewel movement in solid gold case. Often these gold cased watches were marketed toconsumers who wanted to spend all their money on the case and very little money on the movement because it was of little concern. You find the same thing with pocket watches as well ... a low jewel movement inside a karat gold case. I don't mind the personalized engraving; in fact I like it. It helps date watch and tells a story. I bet this watch was very expensive in its day, hence the reason you don’t see too many of them. Many were probably lost to breakage or melt. I sold most of my watches to cover medical expenses, but this is one I just couldn't part with!

More images of Waltham watches through the decades

From Jewelers' Circular Keystone, August 1968

Skindiver watch makes 'big splash"

The skindiver's watch -- originally intended for sportsmen -- who spend a good deal of time underwater -- is now making a hit with the non-diving public as well, says Harry B. Aronson, president of Waltham Watch Co., Chicago. The Waltham executive estimates that more than 200,000 such timepieces were sold in the United States last year "not only to authentic divers, but also to a great number of people who've never dived any deeper than to the bottom of a martini glass in search of an olive."

 Aronson also figures that as many as half the diver's watches made by Waltham last year were sold to people "who've never gone and never intend to go skindiving.

The watch's popularity "out of water can be attributed to its ruggedness and highly masculine styling," he explained. 

This was/is a great  watch. It was made for Waltham by Blancpain and it was their 50 Fathoms model.  Waltham sold it for $97.50 in 1968.

Photo by Stan Czubernat, LRF Watches