Tips

How to Distinguish a Hand-Painted Dial from Replication or Transfer Process

By Nathan Moore

In the 1880s, American watch factories were developing new procedures to increase the efficiency of mass production. During this time, the craft of meticulously hand-painting dials was replaced by innovative methods to improve speed and consistency. A close inspection of the dial under magnification can...

Analysis , Factory Finishing , History , Jeweling , Movements , Production , Tips , Waltham

Production Conflicts: Factory Records vs. Surviving Specimens

By Nathan Moore

One of the challenges in maintaining the Pocket Watch Database is how to approach situations where the factory records are in conflict with surviving specimens. Usually, it is not as.

Jeweling , Production , Tips , Waltham

Faux Jewel Settings on Waltham’s Model 1857

By Nathan Moore

At first glance, many early movements produced by the American watch factories appear to have screw-set jewel settings. However, under close inspection, these movements reveal scribed circles designed to imitate.

How to Determine if a Waltham Model 1857 is Missing the Patent Dust Ring

By Nathan Moore

In Movements , Patents & Innovations , Production , Tips , Waltham

Not all Model 1857 movements manufactured by Waltham feature Bingham’s patent dust ring. Even when originally fitted with a dust ring, it was often discarded or lost by watchmakers while the movement was in for service. Fortunately, there is an easy way to determine if...