I'd like to solicit some help from our PW experts on an Appleton Tracy PW which I'm currently considering.

It's in a beautiful 18K Gold HC. I'd like to know if this could possibly be be a 20s with a "vibrating hair spring stud" as claimed by the owner. Does anyone have a picture of an Appleton Tracy Watch Co. movement with a "vibrating hair spring stud"?

My preliminary investigation would indicate that Serial No. 6316 is in fact an 18s from 1857.

Here's the only picture I currently have of the movement so any expert help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Figure I

Figure II

Unfortunately, this is NOT a 20 size vibrating hair spring stud. That feature appeared in KW16 & KW20 wind & SET from back American Watch Co & Appleton Tracy grades. You can see the regulator lever - not found on a vibrating hair spring studded watch - to the upper left of the centre. For an illustration go to Shugart p. 108 - at the very start of American Watch Co in the 'sainted' price guide. Hope this helps...

The power of wishful thinking! It always amazes me how sellers manage to convince themselves that a watch has a special, rare feature when the evidence is plain as day that it doesn't. The sad thing is that this watch is perfectly desirable enough for what it actually is - an early, fully jeweled AT&Co Grade M57 in a gorgeous 18K case with all the engine turning on it. This looks to to be an outstanding, high grade and early example of a historically important watch model, so no silly embellishments about imaginary special features should be needed to sell it. Oh well.