Please tell me what I have and is this of value? Is the eagle marking stamped inside the outer cover a solid gold mark? It is also marked with F.D. & Co.

The dust cover is marked with "Detached Lever 13 Jewels Parachute Compensation No 12677 Harris & Wilcox Troy N.Y." 13 jewel manual wind movement is running well and keeping good time. Fancy fine textured dial (with a peacock in the center).

Your comments?

Front

Front with open cover

Back

Dust cover

Back cover gold mark

Movement

Side of case

Michael

WOW what a watch ! and YES it is something !

Did you buy this watch at the 2004 Jones and Horan auction ?

The watch is a swiss made (and please do never call her 'swiss fake') watch made for 'Harris and Wilcox' NY.

Herman J. Harris and Alanson D. Wilcox, Albany, NY 1840; Troy NY, business until the late 1850's, listings for the firm as jewel and watchmakers, own hallmark 'HW'.

The watch has at least two special items I would like to show:
Writen on the dust cover you can read 'parachute'. This is the very first shockproof mechanism for the balance staff first invented by Breguet 1810 (about 150 years before this idea became common in watchmaking !)
'compensation' means the temperature-compensation, but not the well known type with split balance. The compensation we find here is the bi-metallic curb compensation.
This 'inner values' plus the excellent case and the three colour gold dial makes a very fine watch !

One short note: the barrel bridge misses one screw. Be carefull and don't try to get this beauty working without service. Those old barrel arbors often have just one-sided bearing. If you wind-up and the barrel-bridge lifts.... !

Regards Gerald

Gerald,

I picked her up about a year ago, and not at auction. What do you think she is worth?

Mike

5 Years ago she sold for $ 700 with a heavy gold chain. Maybe she's worth this without this chain.
(My 2-cents and with service) I would service and keep her !
Could you take a close-up of the 'parachute'

Regards Gerald

I can. Would you like to buy her?

Mike

Mike

Not me. It's a little bit like playing poker with just my cards open ? Sounds not like a real good business-plan.

Do you like to sell? If so and if you give me permission to take your photos to the swiss 'PocketWatch Forum' i might find someone with interest. Be aware of the time delay.

btw Is someome on the F.D & Co and the eagle mark?

Regards Gerald