Pocket Watch Guide

For those who are avid pocket watch collectors, the name Waltham is a name with which most are quite familiar with. These pocket watches have been in existence for over 150 years, manufactured between the 1851 and 1957. However, there are a lot of fakes out there claiming to be a Waltham pocket watch.

To protect yourself as a collector or seller, you need to know how to identify an authentic Waltham. Here are some steps that you can take to ensure that your is pocket watch within the proud tradition of Waltham.

• What type of pocket do you have? There are three types: There’s pocket watch which has a casing that closes over the face of the pocket watch; the open face, has no cover and winds up at the top of the watch; the final one is the sidewinder, which winds up at the 3 o’clock position and also is without a cover.

• Open up your watch’s back cover and examine it for any identifying names. Waltham pocket watches contain the letters A.W.W.Co., along with Waltham, Mass. Found on the inner side. This will also include what grade of pocket watch it is. For example, if yours is a Riverside, the name Riverside will follow the A.W.W.Co.

• Write down your watch’s serial number, which can be found on the pocket watch movement. This will be useful in authenticating and locating your pocket watch manufacture date.

• Check the internet for a website that lists the dates for Waltham pocket watch production or contact a Waltham expert/dealer. Th serial number is going to be between two of the listed dates. The date that the watch was made is on the earlier of the two dates; the latter is when production ceased on that particular pocket watch.

• If your watch has a cover, examine the inside. If the cover’ s inside has AWco on it, that cover is also a creation of the Waltham company. If a K also appears inside the cover, the case is gold and any number behind the K is how many karats of gold it contains.

Waltham pocket watches are beautiful and classic works of art. They are well-loved and sought after by many a collector. Knowing what to look for will help you to quickly identify the real thing, giving you the thrill of knowing you are, indeed, holding a real treasure.