I picked up this 16s, 17 jewel, adjusted Waltham Royal open face for $100 specifically to use as my carry watch. It keeps great time and although not a true "looker" (case back has some surface scratches, case opens just past 90 degrees, bow and crown show wear from service), the dial and hands are mint, case shows no brassing, and the crystal is scratch free making it the perfect watch for me to carry every day. Excellent conversation piece. Folks always ask about it when I take it out to check the time. Just need to have crystal taken out to clean up the case edge between 2-3 o'clock. You can hardly see it in person, but the photos exaggerate it. Gold isn't peeling, just dirty in that area for some reason. I particularly like the movement and demaskeening on this watch.
Posts: 570 | Location: Michigan in the USA | Registered: April 13, 2015
Nice looking Royal, Keith! You're right, that is a great carry watch,I have one like it, but mine has a center bridge and a separate escape wheel bridge finger.They were supposed to be a 3 -position watch, although not marked.Another under- appreciated but beautiful Waltham!
Posts: 1323 | Location: Lebanon, Connecticut USA | Registered: March 28, 2008
Thanks, Theodore. Would love to see photos of your Royal if you get a chance to post some. Mine needs to be sent out for a good COA. Not sure why the Royal is so underappreciated. Based on the fine performance it has given me, I'm impressed with the old girl.
Edit: And now that I understand what "brassing" actually is, I have to take back my comment above regarding no brassing on the case. The case is actually probably more brass than gold. Lol.
Posts: 570 | Location: Michigan in the USA | Registered: April 13, 2015
Keith, unfortunately I don't have a way to photograph it,otherwise I would.I just got mine out to use it, and just my luck, the mainspring let go, I had it serviced two years ago, but didn't have the MS changed,my luck with mainsprings hasn't been too good this year! I read somewhere that the Royal was named after Royal E. Robbins, one of the bigwigs at Waltham early on.They all are a "royal" looking movement!
Posts: 1323 | Location: Lebanon, Connecticut USA | Registered: March 28, 2008
I have to add that the Waltham "Royal" was named to commemorate that true "savior" of the American (Waltham) Watch Co. So the early R.E. Robbins (18s) and later "Royal" models are especially collectible as higher end "carry" watches.
Mr. Royal E. Robbins funded the company when it was in dire straits and then (most important) respected and absorbed the Nashua Watch Co. as a separate Engineering unit. It was Nashua engineering that put American Waltham Watch Co. in business with designs that remained effective for the next 75 years.
Posts: 6492 | Location: Southern California in the USA | Registered: July 19, 2007
Sorry to hear of your main spring issue, Theodore. Hope you're able to get your watch up and running again.
Interesting information on the history of the Royal, Dave. Thanks. And nice watch. I just read about the Waltham, Nashua, Royal Robbins connection in Mike Harrold's book. Good stuff!!
Posts: 570 | Location: Michigan in the USA | Registered: April 13, 2015
My most often carried watch is the Patek Philippe Chronometro Gondolo. An amazing timekeeper. Of all the RR timekeepers I own, this one never needs setting if I keep it wound. An intriguing story of this watch and its exclusive group of original raffle entrants can be found on the internet.
Posts: 18 | Location: Huntsvillle, Alabama in the USA | Registered: February 25, 2014
Lets see if I can make this work , here is 2 orphans brought back to life , A P/S Bartlett movement in a silveroid case , and a "stick -on " dial ,the original was in poor shape , it needs hands to match the dial but I like it.
Posts: 1574 | Location: Maryland in the USA | Registered: June 04, 2015
Picked up this Ill Central last year for 50 bucks because I love the Montgomery dials. Wasn’t expecting much as was not running. Once I got it I found it wound okay so I gave it a slight bump against my palm and it starting running. Been running ever since, Every time I carry it it’s been a pretty darn consistent time keeper, loses about a minute every couple of weeks. Got it on me right now, best $50 I’ve spent in a while, who knew!
Posts: 148 | Location: Davie, Florida in the USA | Registered: March 26, 2013
This week I'm running a 16S South Bend 17J 217, in a Crescent swing-ring silveroid case.A really nice "almost" railroad grade that gets overlooked for some reason.
Posts: 1323 | Location: Lebanon, Connecticut USA | Registered: March 28, 2008
Yes Mark Your posts about family ties to "nights & weekends"rwy are appreciated. Served 10 years in the '80s all over the road. Mostly at Norfolk Terminal Division, coal piers. Hard work, great memories. Mike
Posts: 1114 | Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia in the USA | Registered: February 08, 2015
My first post. Let's see if I can get it to behave. I'm Keith R... from the green board. I carry an AT&Co grade key wind and an English verge 1834. Every now & then, a CH Meylan. Happy holidays to all.
Keith
Keith R...
Posts: 27 | Location: Raywick, Kentucky in the USA | Registered: December 06, 2015
90 degrees, bow and crown show wear from service), the dial and hands are mint, case shows no brassing, and the crystal is scratch free making it the perfect watch for me to carry every day. Excellent conversation piece. Folks always ask about it when I take it out to check the time. Just need to have crystal taken out to clean up the case edge between 2-3 o'clock. You can hardly see it in person, but the photos exaggerate it. Gold isn't peeling, just dirty in that area for some reason. I particularly like the movement and demaskeening on this watch.
