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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face chronograph pocket watch

New York Standard Watch Co Chronograph Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This open face chronograph pocket watch is signed by the New York Standard Watch Co, USA. Housed in a white metal case with screw-off front and back covers, the watch features a white enamel dial marked 'STANDARD U.S.A.' with Arabic numerals, an outer calibrated track, and a subsidiary register positioned at 6 o'clock. It is equipped with blued steel hands, including a central chronograph seconds hand. According to the seller, it contains a 7-jewel nickel three-quarter plate movement with exposed steel work for start, stop, and flyback chronograph functions, paired with a lever escapement and stem winding mechanism.

Dial and front view of the open face New York Standard Watch Co pocket watch
Dial and front view of the open face New York Standard Watch Co pocket watch — Atlam Watches / Antiques Boutique. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.antiquesboutique.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face chronograph pocket watch
Maker / attribution
New York Standard Watch Co
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
WA18 (AB-97773)
Source-reported date
c1920
Country
United States

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Dial and Visual Display

The pocket watch features a white enamel dial with black Arabic hour numerals, paired with an outer seconds and chronograph track calibrated in fifths of a second. A subsidiary dial calibrated with ten-second Arabic intervals is situated at the 6 o'clock position. The central chronograph seconds hand rests at the 12 o'clock/60-second index, and the dial carries blued steel hands.

The dial is signed 'Standard, USA'. Dealer condition notes report that the dial has 'damage on the edge of the 5 and light hairlines' and that the face is fitted with a mineral glass crystal.

Evidence for this section
  • “White enamel dial featuring black Arabic hour numerals and an outer seconds/chronograph track calibrated in fifths of a second.”
  • “Subsidiary dial located at 6 o'clock with Arabic ten-second numerals.”
  • “Central chronograph hand resting at the 60/12 position.”
  • “Dial – the white enamel dial has a full set of blue steel hands. The dial is signed “Standard, USA” and is in 65% mint condition – damage on the edge of the 5 and light hairlines”
  • “The watch has a mineral glass”

Case Construction

The movement is housed in an open-face white metal case measuring 50 mm by 14 mm. Access to the dial and movement is provided by a screw-off front bezel and screw-off back cover.

The case has a smooth plain finish, with the winding stem, crown, and bow assembly positioned at 12 o'clock. The seller notes that the case exhibits 'light signs of metal coming through and a dent on the back'.

Evidence for this section
  • “Case – the movement comes in a white metal open face case, which has a screw off back and front.”
  • “The case has a smooth plain finish and is in 70% mint condition – light signs of metal coming through and a dent on the back”
  • “The watch measures 50mm x 14mm”
  • “Stem, crown, and bow assembly situated at the 12 o'clock position on the round white metal case.”

Reported Movement and Operating Condition

The movement is not visible in the provided photographs. According to the seller's description, it is a nickel three-quarter plate movement signed 'New York Standard Watch Co, USA, 7 Jewels' and fitted with a lever escapement alongside exposed steel work for the chronograph function.

The watch is stem wound and stem set, featuring a 'start, stop and fly back chronograph function'. The seller explicitly states that the watch is not working, noting that it has a 'good balance and spring but is fully wound and not working'.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement – the nickel ¾ plate movement has a lever escapement and has exposed steel work for the chronograph function.”
  • “The movement is signed “New York Standard Watch Co, USA, 7 Jewels”.”
  • “It has a start, stop and fly back chronograph function, which is complete”
  • “The watch is stem wound / stem set”
  • “This pocket watch is NOT working. The watch has a good balance and spring but is fully wound and not working.”

Open research questions

  • What movement serial number or patent stamps are present under the case back to resolve the date discrepancy between 'c1920' in the listing title and 'Victorian (1837 to 1901)' in the specifications?
  • What specific white metal alloy or base metal composition was used for the case, and does the inside case back bear any casemaker hallmarks?
  • What is the mechanical cause of the non-running state despite the seller reporting an intact balance and spring?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for New York Standard Watch Co Chronograph Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement signatureNew York Standard Watch Co, USA, 7 Jewels“The movement is signed “New York Standard Watch Co, USA, 7 Jewels”.”
Dial signatureStandard, USA“The dial is signed “Standard, USA””
Chronograph functionsStart, stop and fly back“It has a start, stop and fly back chronograph function, which is complete”
EscapementLever escapement“the nickel ¾ plate movement has a lever escapement”
Dimensions50mm x 14mm“The watch measures 50mm x 14mm”
Winding and settingStem wound / stem set“The watch is stem wound / stem set”
Crystal materialMineral glass“The watch has a mineral glass”
Case constructionWhite metal open-face case with screw-off front and back“white metal open face case, which has a screw off back and front”
Operational stateNot working / fully wound“This pocket watch is NOT working. The watch has a good balance and spring but is fully wound and not working.”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial featuring black Arabic hour numerals and an outer seconds/chronograph track calibrated in fifths of a second.
  • Subsidiary dial located at 6 o'clock with Arabic ten-second numerals.
  • Stem, crown, and bow assembly situated at the 12 o'clock position on the round white metal case.
  • Central chronograph hand resting at the 60/12 position.

Research qualifications

  • No photographs of the movement or case interior are provided in the listing to verify movement engravings or serial numbers.
  • Source reports conflicting dates: 'c1920' in the title versus 'Victorian (1837 to 1901)' under additional information.
  • The dealer explicitly notes the watch is fully wound and not in working order.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Chronograph by New York Standard Watch Co c1920 in Antique Mens Watches

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record f9144b83a9

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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