American exceptionalism in an 1897 pocket watch! 

I recently switched to a pocket watch, both in a waistcoat and with Jeans. Fantastic decision, so fun and so many compliments...I need one of these beauties in my life though!

Hello Stian: One thing I thought I should mention about this style of watch. This is a "hunting-style" case as opposed to the "open-faced" cases used in most other pocket watches. In case you don't know, when opening the front cover, do not force it past 90 degrees. It will damage the hinge. But even more important one should press the crown in while closing the front cover. The "latch" that catches on a small lip on the inside of the front cover will quickly wear the soft, gold-filled, cover and it will refuse to stay closed. I have worked on mainly pocket watches and clocks for 20+ years. Literally thousands of American pocket watches have crossed my bench. I am always happy to see one of these old treasures show up in such good shape. I might also recommend putting a chain on the watch. It will definitely snap a balance staff pivot if it's dropped due to the lack of any shock absorbing mechanism. I sell watch crystals, balance staffs, and mainsprings if you should have a need in the future. Please let me know how to PM you my contact info if interested. I don't want to promote my business or YT channel on your channel :-). Beautiful work as always!!!! - Mike

It is always a joy to see when the balance wheel revives :-) And how happy the young ladies was. Lovely

125 years old and in better condition than my 18 month old daily wearer. We could learn a lot from these old watches. I'd much sooner have a decorated movement like that and an enamel dial. Interesting that the watch still had manufacturing defects after all these years though.

What a beautiful old watch. Amazing condition. A very lucky young lady indeed. With the watch being over 120 years old, she could well see its 200th year.

That’s a lucky young lady 👍

One of the things that sets your channel apart from other watch repair channels is your extensive history lesson on each watch you repair. Very enjoyable and informative. The other things that set you apart are too numerous to list! 😏

I'm more interested in wrist watches, like most people are I guess, but this pocket watch is such a beauty! The dial and the blue hands are extremely pretty and all the art work on the case here. This is a real treasure! $75....... a robbery 😄

Beautiful inside and out. I'm lucky to have my grandpa's 1940's era Hamilton pocket watch

What a beauty! I'm the proud owner of two old Waltham watches myself. A railroad watch from 1906, in a "Silverode"-case and a wristwatch from 1923. I bought them mostly because of the gorgeous movement-decorations. Nothing wrong with Côtes de Genêve, but these old American watches took decoration to another level. Thank You for sharing this beautiful sight!

What an amazing find and restoration. $75!!! Goodness, it did go to the right person, however. Glad to see that watch run again when all the parts looked in great shape. I know she's young but I have high hopes that she comes to cherish that pocket watch and start a new family history for it.

Hello Stian thank you for that nice video. I really love the American pocket watches from that era 1885 - 1930 they are so beautifully decorated, they are well thought and easily serviceable. And they're another thing I like it's your Solvex RM I dream of that cleaning machine... Lol

Now that's a beautiful watch! Quite the find! I love old pocket watches ... Many many years ago, somewhere around 1970, a watchmaker who befriended me gave me an 1890 Elgin National pocket watch for me to "... maybe try to learn how to work on...". Somewhere in the course of all my moving about through years of college and other stuff, it was misplaced. Forty years later, my brother tells me that he saw it in a box in his basement, located it, and sent it to me. It was in sorry shape, missing bits, but still wanted to run. I found a watchmaker who would take on the restoration project... A few months later, the restored watch returned home in superb shape, all of its beautiful patina and mechanicals intact and running well. I keep it on my desk and often enjoy just sitting and listening to it. These little devices are special... 😀

Lucky young lady! Beautiful watch, and the dial was the first thing I really noticed because it’s so rare to see them that pristine. Your videos are always an event for me, because they’re so clear visually and in content. I know a lot more than I used to, but still not very much! 🇨🇦💕

Wow that watch is in incredible shape! Gorgeous! I just started watchmaking school, it is amazing to be the one opening up movements and learning the lathe after watching watchmakers on youtube for a couple years. Your channel is one of my favorites, I appreciate your calm voice and dad jokes. 🙃

Since I was a child I always liked pocket watches. I'm an old man now and I'm thinking of putting up my wrist watches and start carrying a pocket watch again. Seeing that beautiful watch I think I'm going to start looking for a vintage hunting style watch. Thanks for another excellent video keep them coming please. 👍🤜🤛

*I fondly remember my daughter at the same size and probably age, dropping my CYMA pocket watch. I cringed when she held it, but fortunately Stian, YOUR DAUGHTER didn’t drop this beautiful Waltham. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WATCH AND SERVICE. I really enjoy watching your videos.*

Have several old Waltham pocket watches in my collection. Beautiful movements. Carry them often.

I just got an American Waltham from the same era from a thrift store in Wisconsin for $24! Glad you put this out so I can learn more about it. My case isnt quite as nice as that one, but agree that they are real stunners!

Great job Stian! Enjoyed the history lesson too. Hopefully you can find some more pocket watches for future videos. Cheers

Absolutely beautiful

The condition of the case is just incredible given the age of the piece. Thanks again Stian for your time and effort that's gone into making these videos. We leave not only with a greater appreciation for horology in general, but also with the history and character of the individual piece your meticulous hands bring back to life. I never regret stopping by. Much love from Scotland, Steve

What a nice looking pocket watch. I really like these old Waltham watches.

That restoration was lovely and vastly increased the value of this fine old Waltham "Seaside" model of 1897. You did well buying it for such a criminally low price. Congratulations! ~Wendi UK 🌻

Another great history and watchmaking lesson from Stian the master!

with a watch like this, who wants to see the dial when you can admire those trips... Thanks for sharing!!

Gorgeous dial and the entire watch 😊

THATS WHAT I CALL A NICE POCKET WATCH . I OWN A MAPPIN AND WEBB POCKET WATCH . LOVE THE PORCELAIN FACE ON CLOCKS AND WATCHES

Could watch you for hours. Admire your skill and patience and the snippets of history about the watch and maker. All the best Mick🇬🇧

Love this video, I have a soft spot for old pocket watches

Beautiful!

What a thing of beauty.

Beautifully decorated watch, internal as well as external

Wow. Stunning watch. Thank you for showing us this masterpiece.

I just started getting into watches but Waltham is a name I recognize from my main hobby, fountain pens.😊

That was a stunning pocket watch. Great looking movement, case and the face is super cool. Heck of a deal for $75. and a super service to bring that baby back to life. Kudos once again.👍I have my grandfathers old Hampden pocket watch in a homemade wood display that I keep nearby...just for fun.

I’m from Waltham! I had a high school history class that included Waltham Watches in the curriculum. We take this stuff very seriously because these watches and workers were so important to our city and country!

Love that swirl on the barrel lid

Always looking for stuff like this. Nice example and indeed a great find and restoration. Thank you for what you do

I had seen a Boston watch co. watch on E Bay . In the 1870`s Waltham watches were very nice as well . In the early days the number produced were low . I started collecting and repairing pocket watches 7 years ago . I now have over 35.

One of the interesting results of the American practice of selling the movement and case separately is that a person on a limited budget could choose which one of the two to put more money into, depending on what they expected out of the watch. You could spend more money on the movement and less on the case and have a higher quality/more accurate movement in a case that could take more wear, or a very fancy watch with a gold case and fancy dial but have a low-jewel movement because the appearance was more important than accuracy or ruggedness. I have seen plenty of watches with hand-decorated dials in 14k gold cases but with a 7-jewel movement, and also true railroad watches carried by engineers and conductors with a 21- or 23-jewel movement in a plain nickel steel case for ruggedness. In the 1800s - thanks greatly to arms industry during the American Civil War - the Americans became known for "mass production" (not to be confused with "assembly line production") where all the parts were made in the same factory. The Swiss, et al were still sub-contracting out batches of parts to local craftsmen in small shops which were then brought to a central factory for assembly. An elderly friend who was a watchsmith for many years used to say that American pocket watches of that era were far easier to work on because the parts were all identical and easier to replace, yet the Swiss watches required much more custom fitting for each part because each batch was made by many different craftsmen at many different shops. I always enjoy your videos!

Wow, that is one beautiful watch. Good work👍 That's great you presented it to your little princess. A watch enthusiasts In the making.

I like the way you treat every watch you work on with respect. That beautiful watch has amazing amplitude given the old mainspring. Your thought the case is new is probably right. I am a graduate watchmaker long retired. You are an excellent watchmaker with great knowledge and skill. It is a joy to watch you at work. Wishing you well each day. Cheers!

I got the same seaside. 1899 with 15 jewels. I paid $560 for it because it has a 14K solid gold case. The coin shop was going to scrap the watch and have the case melted down for the gold. This happens to almost all gold pocket watches today. I immediately told them to hold it I'll buy it it a couple weeks (I only make $15/hr). I'm going to use your video as an aid to service it and get it running again.

An absolute stunner my friend. It was cared for all this time. Im sure that young lady will care for it for years to come.

Very nice. I have an ~1892 American Waltham Watch Co., 17 jewel Crescent Street model, which was my great-grandfather's watch and is currently in a bit of restoration also. Enjoyed watching your video and listening to discussion on the history of the company.

Wonderful video! So nice to see you working on a pocket watch for a change. My watch collecting journey began with pocket watches, specifically my grandfather's watch. (He worked on the Pennsylvania Railroad.) Loved the history lesson, too, as always! Thanks for sharing!!

Most charming timepiece I’ve seen you work on.

Great video! It makes me want to get out our family's pocket watches to just look at the movements. Thanks for sharing.

What a beautiful watch , and also a lovely gift for its new owner , another triumph 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻

Awesome job, as usual! And an amazing find!

This watch is beautiful! Thank you for the lovely video! I love it! 💜

Such a beautiful caliber.. the decoration is wonderful.

I have a large collection of antique pocket watches. One of my favourites is a Waltham railroad watch with the vanguard movement.

Hello Stian, and thank you for creating such a good assortment of videos. I floated in quite randomly on the RU-vid tide and, with that same randomness, I’m meandering through the collection. 👍. I’ve chosen to comment on this video particularly because I live near Waltham and have enjoyed some visits to the vast old watch factory. The campus of buildings has been repurposed, naturally, for a variety of uses, and a bit of it has been made into an excellent industrial museum. There is a good exhibit about watch production, of course. The highlight for me is the Charles Vander Woerd automatic screw machine which significantly sped up production of tiny screws. It’s quite an engineering accomplishment for the 1870’s.

That dial ended up looking brand new! Great work.

The craftmanship is outstanding; and what a bargain, nicely done.

Beautiful watch and i did love the special young lady reaction to the watch.

Interesting I've worked on quite a few Waltham pocket watches and never saw that issue with the cap stones. Learn something new every time I watch one of your videos Thanks for sharing

What a beauty!

What a beautiful watch! Thank you so much for the commentary.

Lovely pocket watch and a lovely addition to the family to treasure. Keep well from New Zealand 🇳🇿

Someday I will get so lucky.thanks for sharing. This amazing time pice

Stunning! That's all that needs to be said.

You're a braver man than me giving that beautiful watch to a child.

Gorgeous! In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a more beautifully finished movement! Some day, your little one will hold this in her hand and think back with great love and admiration for her father, and the lovely gift he made of this watch to her!

You have motivated me into changing the batteries on my old cheap Chinese/Japanese watches. 😅 I enjoy watching you take apart and repair the old watches.

Same model I'm taking apart now, except I have to get a new balance it vaporized when it got cleaned, I'll be watching this video a few more times, thanks for the old school take.

What a Beauty! Thanks for the history lesson.

Wow! I have been through quite a few old pocket watches, but none were is this stunning condition! I'm currently working on getting a pocket watch that was converted to a wrist watch that displays the same issue you've found on this one. The balance wheel won't continue to spin after assembly. I'll have to get the microscope out and check the jewels more closely. Great job, and I love the excitement in the new owners voice, precious!

A very beautiful watch, indeed

Ah she seems to be appreciative of the watch,👍. I have an 1918 Illinois pocket, I bought it after my dad died as it was the year he was born. Great watch, keeps good time. Great video as usual. Thank you. Adrian and

What a beautiful timepiece and gesture to pass on to a new generation, I hope she enjoys it. I have a 14K solid gold ladies Omega watch made in 1969 biding it's time till it's passed on to my granddaughter. I also have a Waltham Riverside pocket watch made in 1937 that belonged to my father whom just passed away.

The artwork on the bridges and case is remarkable.

Thanks for that! I’ve a couple of them and will have to try to service one. Challenge accepted!

Wonderful video. I plan for a special watch for both my kids as well. Thanks

What a beautiful watch!! Thank you for sharing!!

Great job (as usual). Nice comments and at the end a lucky young lady. Thx a lot for showing. Greetings

I remember about 20 years ago now you could get a bag full of pocket watches (maybe 20-30) for $10 off ebay, a lot of caseless movements thrown in too as the gold was being scrapped.. maybe partly due to the prices of old watches being driven up by collectors but I think some people are also appreciating the pocket watch more these days. I've used an old Tavannes pocket watch for the last 15 years, movement is big enough that even for somebody as unsteady as me it's not very difficult to clean and service it every couple of years. -edit- forgot to mention they must have had the apprentice rubbing the jewels in the day that watch was made

That's marvelous!

The craftsmanship and knowledge shown here are always pure joy for watch enthusiasts. Your daughter will surely appreciate and care for it.

Absolutely stunning example

What a beautiful watch! Thanks for the interesting bit of history - I have a pocket watch with a Swiss movement in a silver Dennison case.

Congrats on your find. Nice job on the restoration.

What a sweet gift for a very deserving young lady. Beautiful. I have my mom's pendant/pocket watch to work on. It has a New York Standard dial and movement from 1910 and an Elgin case from 1890. At least that's what the serial number database told me. It wasn't working and was missing some parts so I sourced a replacement movement and just have to screw up the courage to extract it from its current case and implant it in my mom's case. It's a treasure I'm happy to own.

Beautiful watch and lovely video as always. I was pleased that there was no mention of nose hair!!! Love to hear some of the back-story on AWC and Dennison. Worth noting that he also created a widely used system of measurement for the watchmaker’s trade, the unit of measurement being the Dennison…… but of course. On that reverse winding thing, I have several Waltham watches, mostly earlier models such as 1883 and 1892 and the setting works is very different from that on your watch. I also have one Waltham that is somewhat later but haven’t disassembled it as yet so don’t know how it compares. Thanks again for all the good work and the sharing.

*Beautiful timepiece.*

Hello Stian, a real gem , very nice and impressive watch , didn't know that American watches has so nice engravings ! nice too share this!

Gorgeous!!!

What a beautiful watch. I miss out on a bid for one of them one time. People have ask me why I love old pocket watches and why I buy them to work on well there your answer. Last Waltham I work on was a grade 620 turn out so nice.

Beautiful watch and a wonderful gift to your daughter. I also gave a small similar watch to my youngest daughter and gave her a chain so she can wear it as a pendant watch less chance it will be lost and or broken. Also its best to depress the crown when closing the cover it saves the lip from excess wear. Your service videos are amazing!!!.

What a find…excellent video.

It is amazing that you found a 7j Waltham that didn't need rebushing. I have a few of these including a lovely seaside. Nearly all of them have one or more pivot holes that are oval. Congrats on an amazing find.

First time I see the main spring being reinstalled by hand. Very nice! I too bought a Waltham pocket watch from eBay recently, according to the serial number it's from 1914. It's simply gorgeous! And veeeery dirty.

Can't beat and English Benson lever. being an antiques dealer i have handled thousands of pocket watches over the years, some of hte finest out there and own a good many too! great video.

What a deal, I have a large 18s Waltham 120 years old. They are beautiful watches

This was extremely interesting to see because some years ago I inherited my grandmother's gold Waltham Pocket watch which has a similar very decorated case with ornate gold hands, gilded accents on a white dial with arabic numerals but the movement is identical to your example, the decoration, wording "American Waltham Watch co" "safety barrel" etc, the custom engraving under the rear case describes being gifted Christmas of 1900 so I know it's at least 122 years old and still in working order and in amazing condition, it's beautiful, sentimental and a piece of working history, this was a pleasure to watch, great work Sir!

Just beautiful.

WOW ! Your work Is Amazing! You Are A True Master! bringing History Back To Life. I Hope The person That You Gave it to, will take Care of That Beautiful Watch. And Treat Him With Respect. Cheers Great Job!

On these "Safety Pinion" movements the 2nd (center) wheel had a screw on pinion that unthreads if the mainspring breaks. Beautiful movement and lovely watch, especially for $75 dollars. My eBay strategy it to look for listings that state "over wound". Gems for cheap.