Hi everyone,
I am new to this forum and hope your expertise might be able to help with a question I have regarding an Illinois pocket watch.
I am a casual collector of vintage pocket and wrist watches and recently bought this watch from an estate (see photo).
The case covers, front and back, have glass crystals and the bezels are both marked...ILLINOIS WATCH CO. SPRINGFIELD on the outside rims.
The movement is a BUNN SPECIAL, 21 JEWELS, ADJUSTED TEMP AND SIX POSITIONS, DOUBLE ROLLER and the watch has a double sunk dial.
This is stem wind, but not a stem set. I assume it is a lever set, but the case covers do not want to screw off. There are no 'lips' to indicate they snap off or any obvious hinges.
Any ideas on how to open this case?
By the way, the case and movement look to be in exceptionally nice condition!
Sorry the photo did not turn out better. It is hard not to get a reflection...
THANKS....

Your Bunn Special is a Model 9 from 1921 and it is a lever-set watch.

Both covers "snap off/on" on these salesman type display cases. They weren't meant to carry a watch in daily use but only so that the salesman could show the movement to the jeweler without having to remove bezels. Today people think they are "cool" and so be it, but they aren't for the beginner to work with and having glass on both sides lends little if any protection if one leans against an object as one of the glasses is liable to break and then you really have a problem !!

One must exercise extreme caution in order that the watch doesn't slip from your hand while opening & closing. Also it is with caution that one must take in removing and putting the bezels back on that the dial doesn't get damaged.

Anyways.....

Take a case opener or a knife, [ a knife is not a good choice but if one is extra careful it can be used if one doesn't have a case opener, but make sure it has some backbone as a thin bladed knife may break a blade with the pressure you will exert], that you know how to handle, put the blade between the rim of the bezel and the case mid section. Gently exert pressure and rock the blade back and forth until the bezel snaps off. But be careful as with too much pressure the blade can slip when the bezel pops off and damage a dial or cut your hand. Some of these lids are extremely tight while others are loose. If they are tight they can be a hassle to put back on and to take off. See if the lid turns any little bit at all before you begin and that will let you know whether its loose or tight. But in putting it back on make sure that it is the same space around the mid section and exert pressure with your thumb on the edge of the bezel [not the glass] and try and snap it back into place.

These cases are very hard to work with and more than one has cut his hand with the knife, damaged a dial and dropped the entire watch.

I only use them on stem wind- stem set watches so that the bezel won't have to be removed except for servicing the watch.

Good Luck !!

regards,
bb

Hi BB,

Thanks for your help and information!

I used a case opener and carefully pied both covers off. They were extremely tight and not easy to remove, but, thankfully, no damage done.
I used a very small bit of lube stick (like bee's wax), applied with a toothpick to the rims, and the covers snapped back in place with no problems.
Hopefully, this will help if I decide to remove the bezels in the future.

While the see through cover on the back is a nifty feature, I gather it doesn't really bring any additional value to the watch?

Here is an additional photo of the front of the watch...

Thanks again for your help!

Regards,
Paul

You're more than welcome....


regards,
bb