1930's era watch....any idea on brand or value?

[Dragoon]

Hi guys....just had a friend ask me to give him some idea on the make or value of this watch his father was given a back in the 30's or around that time. He was told it was solid gold but wasnt sure. It does run but sort feels like tinny when winding,....if that makes sense.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/DragonWatcher/EbayAuction%2001-06/th_CopyofPICT0221.jpg (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/DragonWatcher/EbayAuction%2001-06/CopyofPICT0221.jpg)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/DragonWatcher/EbayAuction%2001-06/th_CopyofPICT02271.jpg (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/DragonWatcher/EbayAuction%2001-06/CopyofPICT02271.jpg)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/DragonWatcher/EbayAuction%2001-06/th_CopyofPICT0228.jpg (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/DragonWatcher/EbayAuction%2001-06/CopyofPICT0228.jpg)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/DragonWatcher/EbayAuction%2001-06/th_CopyofPICT0226.jpg (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/DragonWatcher/EbayAuction%2001-06/CopyofPICT0226.jpg)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/DragonWatcher/EbayAuction%2001-06/th_CopyofPICT0225.jpg (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/DragonWatcher/EbayAuction%2001-06/CopyofPICT0225.jpg)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/DragonWatcher/EbayAuction%2001-06/th_CopyofPICT0224.jpg (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/DragonWatcher/EbayAuction%2001-06/CopyofPICT0224.jpg)

[Hartmut Richter]

Sorry - you've missed the most important thing, I'm afraid!! Photograph of the movement! At the very least, it will enable us to tell you whether the watch is worth something or practically nil.

The dial seems to be damaged, there seems to be at least some staining around 10:00-11:00. The whole dial seems to shine a little unevenly too. The back is definitely stainless steel, whether the case is solid gold or gold filled is not easy to say but I'd have to plump for the latter, which would reduce the value again. It doesn't have to be from the thirties, it might be as late as from the fifties but a shot of the movement would tell us rather more.

Hartmut Richter

[Ray MacDonald]

Sorry - you've missed the most important thing, I'm afraid!! Photograph of the movement! At the very least, it will enable us to tell you whether the watch is worth something or practically nil.

The dial seems to be damaged, there seems to be at least some staining around 10:00-11:00. The whole dial seems to shine a little unevenly too. The back is definitely stainless steel, whether the case is solid gold or gold filled is not easy to say but I'd have to plump for the latter, which would reduce the value again. It doesn't have to be from the thirties, it might be as late as from the fifties but a shot of the movement would tell us rather more.

Hartmut Richter
My guess on the date would be the early 1950s, not the 1930s for sure. The dial and case looks like 50s to me. They did not have expansion bands in the 1930s (they came in around 1948 or so) and this band looks original.
Otherwise I agree with Hartmut. We would need to see the movement to identify the watch more precisely if we can.

[Dragoon]

Thanks so much for the input. I didnt want to and really couldnt quite figure out how to remove either the dial or caseback of this piece. Since this piece was from a friend I also didnt want to damage a family heirloom.....regardless of the actual value.
Thanks again and I do understand the dilemma.




Sorry - you've missed the most important thing, I'm afraid!! Photograph of the movement! At the very least, it will enable us to tell you whether the watch is worth something or practically nil.

The dial seems to be damaged, there seems to be at least some staining around 10:00-11:00. The whole dial seems to shine a little unevenly too. The back is definitely stainless steel, whether the case is solid gold or gold filled is not easy to say but I'd have to plump for the latter, which would reduce the value again. It doesn't have to be from the thirties, it might be as late as from the fifties but a shot of the movement would tell us rather more.

Hartmut Richter

[pacifichrono]

Hey Rob!

Looks like 1950s to me, too. As Hartmut said, it's extremely unlikely that this watch has a solid gold bezel. I would bet it's just gold plated, not even gold filled. It appears that the dial became spotted or discolored enough that someone just started buffing away! Perhaps the logo was a casualty of that endeavor. Assuming that it turns out to be a mainstream watch like Bulova, Elgin, etc. and the bezel is gold plated, I don't think it would fetch more than $40.00 on eBay.