Help on a vintage Jules Jorgensen

[wisconsinwalter]

Any idea on age and possible value on this piece? 14K. I cant believe how small some of the mens watches were back then!!

[Ray MacDonald]

Any idea on age and possible value on this piece? 14K. I cant believe how small some of the mens watches were back then!!
My guess would be late 1940s. It has an early center second movement (17 jewels), and the movement is marked "unadjusted" even though it probably WAS adjusted. This was to get around import duties into the US after the Second World War.
My copy of Shugart has similar models valued at around $300 but I wouldn't be surprised if it's worth $500 in good running condition.
As far as size goes, remember that huge watches are making a comeback now after the pocket watch & wristwatch shrank and shrank in size in the decades leading up to 1960. There was a good reason for this, as many men wore long sleeved shirts and jackets on dressy occasions (or to work). The watch was supposed to be as light and unobtrusive as possible to fit under those French cuffs.
You'd be surprised how nice and comfortable these older pieces feel. I wear them a lot.

[wisconsinwalter]

The movement uses a square jewel to act as a keep for one of the wheels. Any idea why they use a gemstone and not a piece of metal?

[Ray MacDonald]

The movement uses a square jewel to act as a keep for one of the wheels. Any idea why they use a gemstone and not a piece of metal?
Not sure what you mean. The movement has a standard 17 jewel configuration. Jewels were pretty cheap back then as they are today, so all moving parts that could possibly need it were jeweled.