I've always wanted a US Watch Company with the butterfly cutout, but I wanted a nickel plated one in a nice case. I had a fellow IHC member that I do business with once in a while give me an opportunity to purchase one and so I picked it up! This watch is nicer in person than he described and am proud to put it away in my collection for many years to come. Being a South Bend collector, I don't stray too much, but sometimes theres certain watch grades that I have to have one of! This is an SM Beard Model.

Here is the movement shot. Just like what I've always wanted.

Beautiful hunting case to boot!

Other side of the case.

Beautiful example. Is that a frosted finish?

David-

It looks to be a frosted movement. I figured it was just considered a nickel plate movement. Did they make them with frosted plates? I know us watch co Waltham did the acid etched "frosted" look.

Jared

Beautiful watch, Jared.

Help me out - is SM Beard a named grade like Crescent St would be to Waltham?

Eric-

That would be correct. They had quite a few different names on them.

Thanks,

Jared

Very very nice Jared. Thank you for showing it. I have never seen anything like it before.

Jared, I think you have a much more valuable watch than is implied by the P.G.! Roy Ehrhardt's Gold book gives considerable discussion about the US Watch Co/Marion watch Co Quality levels. Your serial number is very important. Your pictures show a fit and finish suggesting this is a VERY valuable example of their early production. . . .

Ehrhardt's Epochally Encyclopedic discourse on the US Watch Co. in Volume III of his "American Pocket Watches" Encyclopedae includes some more information about this watch which I "clipped and pasted" below. Other Vol III sections mention specifically the Frosted Plate series in both Damaskeened and non-damaskeened versions. With a watch as rare as this, the serial nuimber is all-important to learning more of it's collector status.

Goin back to the "Gold Book", below youi will find the late 1987 valuation range for this watch, making it ever so important to get the best I.D., These should be multiplied by 2 or 3 at least to meet today's actual values.

Jared, Yours appears to be an "EA894" by the below page of (one of many) movement photos from Ehrhardt's Vol III book . . . With the fit, finish and condition, I recommend you insure it for at least $1000.00!

Dave-

Thanks for the info and I did a little looking myself. The serial number on this is 21,217. They did make a few of the frosted movements, but it doesn't look like very many. This is also a hunting version, which looks to be a little harder to find than the open face too.

Jared

Jared, that is one beautiful watch, thanks for sharing, and thanks to Dave Abbé for the background info.

Gary

So Jared has #217 of the first production of these watches. Per the above discussion of the quality grade, this makes it a top grade quality movement trimmed with exceptional "Frosted" (Acid Etched) Damaskeened movement plates, an exquisitely hand-engraved Balance Cock and overall Extra Fine fit and Case!

I stand by my estimate of a value exceeding $1000.00