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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Trench watch

Rockford Grade 180 Trench Watch

Partially verified

This early twentieth-century American wristwatch conversion houses a 0-size, 7-jewel manual-wind movement produced by the Rockford Watch Company, bearing movement serial number 701212 and dating to 1907. The movement is fitted into a 32.5 mm 14-karat yellow gold-filled Keystone Watch Case featuring wire lugs and a case back marked for 25 years. The white porcelain dial displays black Breguet Arabic hour numerals, a subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock, an outer minute track accented with red five-minute numerals, and blued steel hands. The piece is mounted on a two-piece black leather strap.

Front view of the Rockford trench watch showing the porcelain dial, Breguet numerals, sub-seconds dial, wire lugs, and black strap
Front view of the Rockford trench watch showing the porcelain dial, Breguet numerals, sub-seconds dial, wire lugs, and black strap — Secondhand Horology. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
secondhandhorology.com
Category
Wristwatch · Trench watch
Maker / attribution
Rockford Watch Company
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
WA-4756
Source-reported date
1907
Country
United States
Source-reported serial
701212

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

Movement and Origin

The timepiece contains a manual-wind movement, listed by the source as a 0-size, 7-jewel Rockford Watch Company Grade 180, bearing serial number 701212.

The source claims the movement was part of a production run in 1907. As the Rockford Watch Company primarily produced pocket watches, the item is described as a conversion to a wristwatch.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement: Rockford Watch Co. 701212”
  • “specifically the Grade 180, featuring 7 jewels, a size 0s”
  • “was part of the second production run in 1907”

Dial and Visual Features

The watch features a white porcelain dial with black Breguet Arabic numerals and blued steel hands. Details include an outer minute track with red numerals at five-minute intervals and a subsidiary seconds register at the 6 o'clock position.

A hairline or crack is noted on the dial near the lower edge, spanning the area between the 7 and 8 markers.

Evidence for this section
  • “Original white porcelain dial, featuring bold black Breguet numerals, a black minute track, and red Arabic numerals marking every five minutes.”
  • “Faint hairline or crack visible near the lower edge of the dial around the 7 and 8 markers”

Case Construction

The movement is housed in a 32.5 mm round 14-karat yellow gold-filled case featuring wire lugs. The case back is marked 'Keystone Watch Case 25 Years'.

The seller reports the presence of an engraving and a diamond on the case back, though these features are not recorded in the provided imagery.

Evidence for this section
  • “Housed in a 32.5mm round case with wire lugs.”
  • “Case Back Markings: Keystone Watch Case 25 Years”
  • “The watch is beautifully engraved on the center with a diamond in the case back”

Open research questions

  • Does serial number 701212 verify as a 1907 Rockford production through independent horological records?
  • What is the physical condition of the movement, which is not depicted in the source imagery?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Rockford Grade 180 Trench Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement Number701212“Movement: Rockford Watch Co. 701212”
GradeGrade 180“specifically the Grade 180, featuring 7 jewels, a size 0s”
Case MarkingsKeystone Watch Case 25 Years“Case Back Markings: Keystone Watch Case 25 Years”
Case Material14K yellow gold-filled“all in 14K yellow gold-filled material”
Case Diameter32.5 mm“Housed in a 32.5mm round case with wire lugs.”
Case Dimensions36 mm lug to lug; 11 mm thickness; 11 mm lug width; 10 mm band width“Case Lug to Lug 36 Case Thickness 11 Lug Width 11 Band Width 10”

Visible details

  • White porcelain dial with black Breguet numerals and blued steel hands
  • Small subsidiary seconds dial positioned at the 6 o'clock position
  • Onion-style winding crown at 3 o'clock and wire lugs fitted with a black leather strap
  • Faint hairline or crack visible near the lower edge of the dial around the 7 and 8 markers

Research qualifications

  • Case back engraving and reported diamond are not visible in the provided frontal image.
  • The movement is not visible in the photograph.

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

Consulted source

1907 ROCKFORD Trench Watch 0s Grade 180 7 Jewels 14K G.F. Case w/Diamo – SECOND HAND HOROLOGY

Reviewed 2026-10-25 · Record 5e0c7eac75

Terms in this record

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

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