J. Hargreaves & Co 18k Chronograph pocket watch

[duffer04]

This watch was given to my grandfather in Bolton, England on the occasion, I believe, of his 21st birthday. 1986 is inscribed on the back cover. The number on the inside casing is 53590.

 

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[Tesorodeoro]

1896 - likely a year.

Very cool. Do not ever sell it!

 

[duffer04]

1896 - likely a year.

Very cool. Do not ever sell it!

Oops!, Yes1896, My dad was born in 1907

 

[Mackaydon]

"Although they claimed that they were 'Makers to the Queen' etc., there is no record of a Royal Warrant, so this claim is probably an example of fraudulent marketing."
Source: https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/info-about-j-hargreaves-co-liverpool.129526/
Still, a beautiful watch.
Don in SoCal
PS: A sale of a similar watch; but yours is priceless as a family heirloom.
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/14113/lot/506/

 

[duffer04]

Thanks, with the gold measure at 18k. What would the gold content be worth?

 

[AU Seeker]

Thanks, with the gold measure at 18k. What would the gold content be worth?

There's no way for us to tell you the gold value without knowing exactly what the gold parts of the watch weights, and there no way for you to know that without disassembling the watch and weight the gold pieces, which you shouldn't do!

 

[BennyV]

Beauty. 399 pounds seems light to me.

 

[Red-Coat]

Beauty. 399 pounds seems light to me.

I agree. This similar, but slightly later one fetched £1,350, exceeding its presale estimate of £500-£800 despite having some damage and not being in working order:

J. HARGREAVES & CO OF LIVERPOOL; an 18ct yellow gold crown wind open face pocket watch, the white enamel dial set with Roman numerals with chronograph outer ring and inscribed 'Makers to the Queen and H.R.H. The Prince of Wales', with engraved initia

That's the nature of auctions though. It only takes two competing bidders to push up the price; or a seller who hasn't set a reserve price to push it down if there's little interest in the saleroom.

 

[ArfieBoy]

Nice watch!

 

[BennyV]

I agree. This similar, but slightly later one fetched £1,350, exceeding its presale estimate of £500-£800 despite having some damage and not being in working order:

View attachment 2189711

J. HARGREAVES & CO OF LIVERPOOL; an 18ct yellow gold crown wind open face pocket watch, the white enamel dial set with Roman numerals with chronograph outer ring and inscribed 'Makers to the Queen and H.R.H. The Prince of Wales', with engraved initia

That's the nature of auctions though. It only takes two competing bidders to push up the price; or a seller who hasn't set a reserve price to push it down if there's little interest in the saleroom.

It’s a family heirloom. So it’s priceless. I’d get it insured if I were you. Just in case.

 

[Red-Coat]

"Although they claimed that they were 'Makers to the Queen' etc., there is no record of a Royal Warrant, so this claim is probably an example of fraudulent marketing."
Source: https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/info-about-j-hargreaves-co-liverpool.129526/

Note that a “Makers to…” claim is not the same thing as a Royal Warrant and not prohibited if true. Royal Warrants are granted for up to five years at a time as a mark of recognition for established ongoing supply of goods or services to the Royal Household. As opposed to having a Royal as a customer at some point in time. The Warrant entitles the grantee to use the Royal arms on goods or in advertising (it’s not present on Hargreaves’ watches) and when the ‘rules’ were tightened up in the 1870s/1880s it became an offence to use the Royal arms without such permission.

 

[duffer04]

It’s a family heirloom. So it’s priceless. I’d get it insured if I were you. Just in case.

It's interesting to see that one little button you push to change the time. The other slide button stops the watch from ticking. I'll likely not be here to see which of three kids ends up with the watch.