Watch info

gversey

Hi there. I have an old watch which I'd like to get some info about . Can anyone point me in the right direction please.

Wibbs

If you could fire up a few photos maybe someone could help you out.

gversey

Thanks

gversey

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gversey

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gversey

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gversey

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gversey

The face says " vickery London " .

blindsider

Wibbs - Don't you have sth like this? Trench watch...?

Wibbs

I have had a few like this B and yep, it's a Trench Watch, in silver. So usually made from about 1914-1920 for the military man, so your watch is over a century old. Vickory's of London were a well known jeweller at the time so their name would appear on the dial. Unlike today watch manufacturers names like Rolex, Omega, Longines, Zenith not as much.

Here's one an ad for a similar watch to yours Gversey from the same shop.



Yours has a screw back and front case. The hands and dial are all original, as is the crown. Black dials are rarer. It could have been made by any number of Swiss makers, but only a shot of the watch movement would help there. There should also be a hallmark under the back case, which will give the case maker and the year and the city in Britain where the silversmith was based.

A very nice watch Gversey and with some history behind it and a great survivor. If you don't mind me asking, how did you come by it?

PS don't screw off the front G. The brown goo on the numbers of the dial is radium based material that once glowed in the dark and though the glow is long gone it is still very radioactive and extremely hazardous to your health if you were to breath any of it in.

gversey

Wibbs wrote: »

I have had a few like this B and yep, it's a Trench Watch, in silver. So usually made from about 1914-1920 for the military man, so your watch is over a century old. Vickory's of London were a well known jeweller at the time so their name would appear on the dial. Unlike today watch manufacturers names like Rolex, Omega, Longines, Zenith not as much.

Here's one an ad for a similar watch to yours Gversey from the same shop.



Yours has a screw back and front case. The hands and dial are all original, as is the crown. Black dials are rarer. It could have been made by any number of Swiss makers, but only a shot of the watch movement would help there. There should also be a hallmark under the back case, which will give the case maker and the year and the city in Britain where the silversmith was based.

A very nice watch Gversey and with some history behind it and a great survivor. If you don't mind me asking, how did you come by it?

PS don't screw off the front G. The brown goo on the numbers of the dial is radium based material that once glowed in the dark and though the glow is long gone it is still very radioactive and extremely hazardous to your health if you were to breath any of it in.

Wow . Great info. I believe it was my great grandfathers watch. He served in a war. Some reason my head is saying " The great war " but I can't recall exactly.
In your opinion is it worth much at all .? Again , thanks for the info. Very much appreciated.
Gversey

gversey

These 2 watches were also alongside it.
Thanks

gversey

gversey wrote: »

These 2 watches were also alongside it.
Thanks

Pic

gversey

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gversey

All 3 are ticking away

Wibbs

gversey wrote: »

Wow . Great info. I believe it was my great grandfathers watch. He served in a war. Some reason my head is saying " The great war " but I can't recall exactly.
In your opinion is it worth much at all .? Again , thanks for the info. Very much appreciated.
Gversey

Could well have been the Great War and the monogram on the back matches your great grandfather's name. That's the period this style of watch was its most popular worldwide for military guys, though the design stayed on as pretty popular in the UK until the 1930's. Very few would have been around for word war two.

Value? Black dials are generally worth more than white. It's from a good quality retailer and the case is almost certainly silver(which actually doesn't add much if any value). Being a screw back and front adds to the value a little. It'll have a Swiss made 15 jewel movement(an 18 jewel movement will add a little more). The movements in these came from numerous sources, mostly from names and companies long gone. If it had a Zenith, Longines, IWC or Omega movement that will add 20-30% to the value. That it appears all original and working really helps as does the family connection if you can back that up.

In the end dealers after a clean and new strap could ask for anything between 600-1000 depending on how hard their neck is "Real" value on an ebay auction? I'd reckon between 3-400. 500 if the movement is from a well known maker. Though these are a real insight into the very first years of the wristwatch for men(previous to circa 1900-1910 only women wore them and they were seen as "dandyish" and "effeminate" on men. The War changed that) and they're a military watch(a big area of collecting), they never really took off in value the way other later watches did. Not being "waterproof" doesn't help, though few vintage watches are, even divers unless they've been thoroughly checked and resealed. They're perceived as delicate though I've found them remarkably robust myself and if not very worn can be made pretty accurate too.

If it were mine with that connection to my family I'd be definitely hanging onto it. That's something money can't buy. I'd get it serviced and a new strap more like the one it came on and would wear it. Very few will be wearing a century old wristwatch with that kinda history.

gversey wrote: »

These 2 watches were also alongside it.
Thanks

They're much later G. Likely 1970's. One general "rule" is that if a watch says "water resistant" or "water protected" its post 1970, "waterproof" is pre 1970. From generic small Swiss brands with bought in movements(usually AS IIRC). Decent enough watches, but with little real value beyond sentimental.