tHE holy grail of HAMPDEN WATCHES.IT'S A HAMPDEN 21J OPEN FACE 3 POSITION PENDENT SETGOLD JEWEL SETTING SER 3328754 SIZE 16 MADE IN 1917.CHRONOMETER ON MOVEMENT INSIDE NOT ON DIAL AND NO MODEL NUM.Got it on ebay 3yrs ago.It,s in a wadsworth triple signed case.iIT WAS GIVING TO JOHN BARSHN FOR WINNER OF SALES CONTEST ENDING AUG 1ST 1920 FROM FREDERICK.H.BARTLETT CO.IT CAME IN IT,S OWN GLASS CASE AND FOB.This is one of the talked about watch and even if it was ever made.well what do you say.johnny

Hi Johnny

Any photos we could look at?

Tom

Johnny, welcome to our IHC185 group.

Indeed you have a special model Hampden.

The Hernick Logs show your S/N 3328754 as the highest yet recorded range of that model 5 run which seems to be from 3328401 to 332900.

It is listed as a "1 Star" Rare model.

The reconstructed production logs would coincide with the inscription you quote on yours showing it was about 1919 - 1920 production.

I have a similar one s/n 3647440 but it is only marked "No 120" on the model 5 movement and has a dial with "Chronometer" marked in the seconds chapter.

These marked movements reported to Hernick appear to be a 1000 piece run of 3657001 - 8000. That would put mine in the 1923-1924 time frame.

It is very interesting that yours has a "Chronometer" marked Movement, and mine is marked "No. 120", but with "a "Chronometer" marked dial.

Mine re-cased in a Wadsworth case, not in a Deuber Case. So your reference to yours being in a Wadsworth case helps me feel better about that!

I hope you can post some pictures of yours.

I think the confusion is that the Grade 555 21j adj 5 positions is sometimes seen with a dial marked Chronometer .

The grade 120 is sometimes seen with Chronometer in the second bits of dial.

Finally there are three runs of 16 size 21j adj 3 positions marked Chronometer on the movement.

NONE of these watches are true chronometers ( there is a rare 18 size swiss made Dueber Chronometer(16j,19j &21j but thats another story).

What amazes me is that these watches command better prices than the some of the rarer 16 size grade 104s 23j adj 5 positions.

Bob

Hi Johnny, I had your watch at one time and it is a nice watch. I have a number of the 16s Hampden chronometers and I do not believe yours originally had a chronometer dial. I replaced the dial when i had it as the dial it came with was a Hampden double sunk Arabic railroad dial. I have seen the 3p chronometer with a chronometer dial but usually just an arabic railroad dial. It is a nice watch and i hope you enjoy it. As Robert says none of the Hampden chronometers, except the early Swiss imports are actually certified chronometers. I have purchased the 104 in almost pristine condition for less money and it is considerably scarcer in my opinion. I collect mostly Illinois and Hampden and we all know the Illinois will always sell even if it is fair to rusty. Such is life.

my watch never had a chronometer dial.it has chronometer engraved on the movement.like the one in complete price guide to watches 2009 issue page pagr 244 under chronometer 21j ni,adj3p,gjs {LEVER ESCAP.ONE STAR 500.00,600.00,900.00.A RARE WATCH.

Dave your watch and my watch looks exactly like yours except where your number 120 my has CHRONOMETER.That is the only difference plus mine says Hampden Watch CO on the dial and no chronometer on the second dial.Like you said your watch was made in 1922-1924 mine was made in 1910.