Is this an Old Pocket Watch?

[Aquitaine]

This is rather an interesting and sentimental find that I came across the other day. It has an inscription on the inside to John on graduation 1984. It has markings on the back and there are two keys included. I don't know the reason for the keys, except to wind the watch perhaps I would love to know the age of it and if it's worth anything. Thanks so much!

 

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[tamrock]

The 1984 inscription I wound think was done around a hundred years after the watch was made. My thoughts are the watch was made within the last quarter of the 19th century, which would be before the 1917 date on the dial. Seems to me the key wind watches were out of fashion by the early 20th century.

 

[pepperj]

It would be great if you flipped the cover open so we can see the works.
That may have the make if the watch, serial # it can be dated also.

Very nice piece.

 

[detectorcowboy]

This is rather an interesting and sentimental find that I came across the other day. It has an inscription on the inside to John on graduation 1984. It has markings on the back and there are two keys included. I don't know the reason for the keys, except to wind the watch perhaps I would love to know the age of it and if it's worth anything. Thanks so much!

The keys are for winding and setting the watch.
The age, I would go with what Tamrock stated the turn of the 19th century.
I would also say it's sterling Silver and worth about a hundred dollars.

 

[Gare]

Remove or open the back cover from your watch and look for a number engraved into the movement; this is the serial number for your watch, and by using it, you can find the closest years it was made on these tables.

 

[Gare]

Also when did they start using colors on the face of them ? such as the different colored flags ?

 

[robertk]

It's hard to tell from the photos, but it looks like there are six flags on the front of the watch. That makes me think of the Six Flags amusement park. The 1917 on the watch front is the year their "Wild One" roller coaster was built in what was then Paragon Park. But ... the flags on the watch do not appear to be the same flags that flew over Texas, so that may be a red herring.

 

[tamrock]

The keys are for winding and setting the watch.
The age, I would go with what Tamrock stated the turn of the 19th century.
I would also say it's sterling Silver and worth about a hundred dollars.

I thought it looked sterling or maybe a lesser grade of silver, but then looking closer I can see the word Argentan. The meaning of that I thought meant something other than silver and I found this online.

Argentan is an alternative name for Nickel Silver or German Silver. It is a Copper based alloy with about 20% Nickel and 15/20% Zinc. Sometimes other metals are added such as manganese. It is similar to Coin Silver and used typically were a silver like finish is required that is more durable in terms of wear and corrosion. It is often used in coins, watch cases, military uniform adornments and also horse adornments, amongst other things.

Note: I also came across another source that claimed the meaning of Argentan said it was a silver plated metal.

 

[Red-Coat]

Interesting watch.

Could we kindly have a nice sharp picture of the flags?

They seem to be an unlikely combination. I see four flags, with possibly another two smaller ones superimposed on the first and second ones. As far as I can tell from the supplied images, they appear to be (from left to right):

- Mexico (not Italy, unless it’s royal flag rather than a national one).
- Georgia (possibly… and not enough blue for it to be the UK Union flag).
- Romania.
- Holy roman empire / Greek orthodox church.

The Mexican flag seems to separate from the other three, which are grouped together. I can’t see any obvious connection between them, nor what the initials ‘J.O.N.’ might stand for with any connection to the 1917 date.

Obviously WWI was in progress in 1917 but I can’t imagine a wartime connection or any kind of military/political alliance. Possibly some connection related to ‘the Church’ (?) but Eastern Orthodoxy is a tiny minority in Mexico and Catholicism is a tiny minority in Eastern Europe.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Nice Watch - looks older from here ?

 

[Aquitaine]

It would be great if you flipped the cover open so we can see the works.
That may have the make if the watch, serial # it can be dated also.

Very nice piece.

I don't know to open the back to see the clock movements, would you know? I googled pocket watches, open but it doesn't show this type of watch and I'm afraid I might break it. I would love to see the serial number too!

 

[Aquitaine]

Interesting watch.

Could we kindly have a nice sharp picture of the flags?

View attachment 2173201

They seem to be an unlikely combination. I see four flags, with possibly another two smaller ones superimposed on the first and second ones. As far as I can tell from the supplied images, they appear to be (from left to right):

- Mexico (not Italy, unless it’s royal flag rather than a national one).
- Georgia (possibly… and not enough blue for it to be the UK Union flag).
- Romania.
- Holy roman empire / Greek orthodox church.

The Mexican flag seems to separate from the other three, which are grouped together. I can’t see any obvious connection between them, nor what the initials ‘J.O.N.’ might stand for with any connection to the 1917 date.

Obviously WWI was in progress in 1917 but I can’t imagine a wartime connection or any kind of military/political alliance. Possibly some connection related to ‘the Church’ (?) but Eastern Orthodoxy is a tiny minority in Mexico and Catholicism is a tiny minority in Eastern Europe.

 

[Aquitaine]

I did a close up of the flags, not sure if it's better. Let me know and I'll try another one.

 

[Aquitaine]

Interesting watch.

Could we kindly have a nice sharp picture of the flags?

View attachment 2173201

They seem to be an unlikely combination. I see four flags, with possibly another two smaller ones superimposed on the first and second ones. As far as I can tell from the supplied images, they appear to be (from left to right):

- Mexico (not Italy, unless it’s royal flag rather than a national one).
- Georgia (possibly… and not enough blue for it to be the UK Union flag).
- Romania.
- Holy roman empire / Greek orthodox church.

The Mexican flag seems to separate from the other three, which are grouped together. I can’t see any obvious connection between them, nor what the initials ‘J.O.N.’ might stand for with any connection to the 1917 date.

Obviously WWI was in progress in 1917 but I can’t imagine a wartime connection or any kind of military/political alliance. Possibly some connection related to ‘the Church’ (?) but Eastern Orthodoxy is a tiny minority in Mexico and Catholicism is a tiny minority in Eastern Europe.

 

[Aquitaine]

Interesting watch.

Could we kindly have a nice sharp picture of the flags?

View attachment 2173201

They seem to be an unlikely combination. I see four flags, with possibly another two smaller ones superimposed on the first and second ones. As far as I can tell from the supplied images, they appear to be (from left to right):

- Mexico (not Italy, unless it’s royal flag rather than a national one).
- Georgia (possibly… and not enough blue for it to be the UK Union flag).
- Romania.
- Holy roman empire / Greek orthodox church.

The Mexican flag seems to separate from the other three, which are grouped together. I can’t see any obvious connection between them, nor what the initials ‘J.O.N.’ might stand for with any connection to the 1917 date.

Obviously WWI was in progress in 1917 but I can’t imagine a wartime connection or any kind of military/political alliance. Possibly some connection related to ‘the Church’ (?) but Eastern Orthodoxy is a tiny minority in Mexico and Catholicism is a tiny minority in Eastern Europe.

 

[Aquitaine]

I thought it looked sterling or maybe a lesser grade of silver, but then looking closer I can see the word Argentan. The meaning of that I thought meant something other than silver and I found this online.

Argentan is an alternative name for Nickel Silver or German Silver. It is a Copper based alloy with about 20% Nickel and 15/20% Zinc. Sometimes other metals are added such as manganese. It is similar to Coin Silver and used typically were a silver like finish is required that is more durable in terms of wear and corrosion. It is often used in coins, watch cases, military uniform adornments and also horse adornments, amongst other things.

Note: I also came across another source that claimed the meaning of Argentan said it was a silver plated metal.

Thank you for all the info!!! Very much appreciated.

 

[Red-Coat]

Thanks for the better pictures. The second flag does now seem to be the UK Union flag, and the third one Belgium rather than Romania (what looked blue is actually black). First flag still looks like Mexico though. A number of countries/states have or had the double-headed Imperial eagle as an emblem as on the fourth flag but, as far as I know, only the Holy Roman Empire had it on a yellow background (also adopted by the Greek Orthodox Church).

I'm stumped on the significance.

 

[pepperj]

I don't know to open the back to see the clock movements, would you know? I googled pocket watches, open but it doesn't show this type of watch and I'm afraid I might break it. I would love to see the serial number too!

You have the first cover open.

The one that is still closed is the dust cover, there's only one way to open it.

Take the edge of a straight edge knife blade.
Go opposite of the hinge. Slide the knife blade along the crack and gently twist it open.

Here is an example of a key wind pocket watch and he opens the dust cover.

 

[unclemac]

i think the second flag is French, the third UK

 

[unclemac]

could the first flag be Italian?