About what time period did the major watch makers stop offering fancy dials? So one can know if the dial and mvmt are at least period correct

Michael,

Are you referring to fancy enamel dials? If you are then I would think 1910-1915. O'Hara dial in Waltham MA made many of the finer hand painted enamel dials but I believe that most multi-colored dials that feature finely embossed gold bits and other little gem-like pieces, arranged geometrically beneath a layer of fired clear enamel, were mostly Swiss made. Their origin wasn't marked on the counter enamel (the back side) because it probably wasn't required at the time. ...but I believe this type of dial making was inexpensively obtained from European sources during that period. That being said, O'hara made extremely fine versions of this style too ...but not inexpensive! I also suspect that O'hara dials are signed on the counter enamel.

Most imports of watch materials, including dials and glass crystals, stopped during World War 1.

This specialized dial work probably wasn't ever done in any of the US watch Co's dial rooms, which were busy with regular production of standard dials. Fancy dials were probably sub contracted to a few select artisans. Moorhouse was an exception but that was much earlier.

I could easily be wrong, but this is a fascinating subject!

William

Yes, fancy enamel typical to Elgin and Waltham (but less commonly seen on other makes) and seen mostly on lower grade hunter case movements. So your thinking that they fell out of fashion before say 1920? I personally have never encountered an O'Hara dial. Thanks for your input.

Michael,

Here's a post regarding O'hara dials: HERE

William

O'hara made some of the most desirable and beautiful dials ever to front American made watches. They were so highly sought after then as well as today. They are also so very "egg-shell" thin that few have survived in pristine condition. Ever time one is taken off a movement or a crystal changed, there is the "threat" of the dial developing a crack or cracks.

Not unlike a fine piece of prized china, O'hara dials have such an intense following that most are traded behind closed doors today and rarely come to market.

In the past I have set up at a lot of watch shows and marts and those dials could be found at most every show and generally on very special movements in expensive gold cases, but not out for all to see. Some dealers always, always had a "secret stash" of watches in a special case that they only brought out "if" they took a liking to you. Most of the time they were shown to you for your pleasure and no price was put on them...... Money could not buy them. They would always cause a man's hands to slightly tremble, knees to weaken, to break out in a sweat, and sometimes to even slightly drool. Not unlike a "first love" in your teenage days, that we can all relate to.....

You may find it interesting to know that the "O'hara" dials were a patented dial and DO have a logo that was stamped on the backside. Now there were other "fancy" dials made by other companies and including Waltham that weren't marked on the back with the patented logo and these are called "O'hara Style" dials. Some experts will argue as to which is what and why. I tend to call them either "Ohara-signed" or "O'hara-style" dials and just let it go at that, but you may call them what you like. Also interesting is that O'hara patented some watch cases while working for Waltham from around 1884 to around 1890. One of those cases would certainly be desirable with an O'hara dial fronting it

regards,
bb