Unusual Watches

[a.k.a. The Good, The Bad, and the Strange]

When I first began collecting watches, I didn't have much of a focus. I basically collected whatever caught my eye at the time. In particular, I went after any watch that was in any way unusual [i.e., it did more than simply tell time]. To a degree, that still hold true today, although I've tried to narrow my focus a bit to Key Wind, American Waltham and Railroad Grade watches. Here, though, are the watches that are not easily classified under the other categories and which are simply... unusual.

If anybody has some additional information about these watches that they would care to share with me, please send me an e-mail and let me know!

Click on any image below to see additional pictures and information for that watch.

Very unusual old English verge fusee with a hallmarked sterling silver pair case. Movement is marked "J. Richens" and the hallmarks on the case date it to ca. 1830. This watch is distinguished by an extremely unusual dial that uses a central sun-moon wheel to differentiate between the A.M, and P.M. hours.

This is a very unusual Swiss-made keywind pocket watch from the late 1800's. It has a special 24-hour dial, and the hour hand actually takes 24 hours to revolve around the dial.

Waltham Chronograph, Size 14, Model 1874, 13 jewels. Stem wind and lever set. Original sterling silver Waltham hunter case, nicely engraved. Ca. 1886

Chronograph made by the New York Standard Watch Co. Size 16. Seven jewels. Stem wind and pendant set. Case is Keystone "SILVEROID". Ca. early 1900's.

Swiss made chronograph in a .800 silver case. 16 size. Jewel count is not marked, but probably has 11-15 jewels. The movement is simply signed "Brevete S.G.D.G" [the mark of the Swiss Patent Office]. Ca. early 1900's.

This is a lovely Hebdomas-style 8 day pocket watch with a distinctive exposed balance wheel. About 50mm in diameter. Stem wind and pin set. The movement cover is marked "ANCRE", "LEVEES VISIBLE", "SPIRAL BREGUET , "8 DAYS", "8 JOURS", "8 DIAS", "QUALITE SUPERIEURE GARANTIE" and "SWISS MADE". Circa the late 1800's or early 1900's.

Interesting Swiss-made watch with a visible escapement seen through the dial. Marked "BONHEUR" on the dial. Gunmetal case is 50mm in diameter. Stem wind and pendant set. 7 jewels. Note that this is NOT a "Hebdomas" style watch. Ca. late 1800's or early 1900's.

Swiss made calendar pocket watch in a lovely 0.800 silver case. 48mm in diameter. Stem wind and pin set. Has two subsidiary dials which tell the day of the week and the day of the month. Movement has a lever escapement and 15 jewels. Ca. late 1800's to early 1900's.

This is a Swiss-made quarter hour repeater in a sterling silver hunter case. It measures approximately 50mm in diameter and probably dates to the early 1900's. It is stem wind and pendant set and the movement has a lever escapement and 15 jewels. The repeater function is activated by a button near the 6. Ca. late 1800's or early 1900's.

Very unusual double dial calendar watch in a niello hunter case. Probably Swiss made. 55mm in diameter. front dial tells the time, rear dial tells the day and date. Ca. 1900.

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	Very unusual old English verge fusee with a hallmarked sterling silver pair case. Movement is marked "J. Richens" and the hallmarks on the case date it to ca. 1830. This watch is distinguished by an extremely unusual dial that uses a central sun-moon wheel to differentiate between the A.M, and P.M. hours.
	This is a very unusual Swiss-made keywind pocket watch from the late 1800's. It has a special 24-hour dial, and the hour hand actually takes 24 hours to revolve around the dial.
	Waltham Chronograph, Size 14, Model 1874, 13 jewels. Stem wind and lever set. Original sterling silver Waltham hunter case, nicely engraved. Ca. 1886
	Chronograph made by the New York Standard Watch Co. Size 16. Seven jewels. Stem wind and pendant set. Case is Keystone "SILVEROID". Ca. early 1900's.
	Swiss made chronograph in a .800 silver case. 16 size. Jewel count is not marked, but probably has 11-15 jewels. The movement is simply signed "Brevete S.G.D.G" [the mark of the Swiss Patent Office]. Ca. early 1900's.
	This is a lovely Hebdomas-style 8 day pocket watch with a distinctive exposed balance wheel. About 50mm in diameter. Stem wind and pin set. The movement cover is marked "ANCRE", "LEVEES VISIBLE", "SPIRAL BREGUET , "8 DAYS", "8 JOURS", "8 DIAS", "QUALITE SUPERIEURE GARANTIE" and "SWISS MADE". Circa the late 1800's or early 1900's.
	Interesting Swiss-made watch with a visible escapement seen through the dial. Marked "BONHEUR" on the dial. Gunmetal case is 50mm in diameter. Stem wind and pendant set. 7 jewels. Note that this is NOT a "Hebdomas" style watch. Ca. late 1800's or early 1900's.
	Swiss made calendar pocket watch in a lovely 0.800 silver case. 48mm in diameter. Stem wind and pin set. Has two subsidiary dials which tell the day of the week and the day of the month. Movement has a lever escapement and 15 jewels. Ca. late 1800's to early 1900's.
	This is a Swiss-made quarter hour repeater in a sterling silver hunter case. It measures approximately 50mm in diameter and probably dates to the early 1900's. It is stem wind and pendant set and the movement has a lever escapement and 15 jewels. The repeater function is activated by a button near the 6. Ca. late 1800's or early 1900's.
	Very unusual double dial calendar watch in a niello hunter case. Probably Swiss made. 55mm in diameter. front dial tells the time, rear dial tells the day and date. Ca. 1900.