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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face dress pocket watch

Waltham 17 Jewels Grade No. 1217 Openface Dress Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This openface dress pocket watch from the Waltham Watch Company is reported to date to 1936. Sized at 12s, it contains a 17-jewel manual-wind movement, Grade No. 1217 (Model 1894), bearing movement serial number 28847907. The round 44.4 mm yellow-tone case is marked as Keystone Victory 10K rolled gold plate with serial number 4761497. The two-tone dial displays a vertically textured center, applied or printed gold Arabic hour numerals, a peripheral railroad minute track, and blued open-diamond steel hands, complemented by a subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock.

Dial and case front of the Waltham openface pocket watch resting on a clear stand
Dial and case front of the Waltham openface pocket watch resting on a clear stand — Second Hand Horology. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
secondhandhorology.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face dress pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Waltham Watch Company
Reference
Grade No. 1217
Catalogue / lot identifier
WA-4321
Source-reported date
1936
Country
United States
Source-reported serial
28847907

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

Visual Dial and Case Design

The open-face pocket watch features a light two-tone dial configuration highlighted by a circular center zone with vertical line texturing and a dedicated rectangular cartouche labeled "WALTHAM". Time indication is handled by blued steel open diamond-motif hour and minute hands paired with gold-toned Arabic numeral hour markers.

A black peripheral railroad minute track surrounds the dial, complemented by a subsidiary seconds dial located at 6 o'clock. The sub-second register features concentric circular finishing along with a railroad seconds track displaying Arabic numerals at 10-second intervals. The round yellow-gold-toned case is appointed with an arched bow and a fluted winding crown.

Evidence for this section
  • “Two-tone light dial featuring a circular center zone with vertical line texturing and a rectangular cartouche labeled 'WALTHAM'.”
  • “The sub-second hand is positioned at 6 o'clock, featuring a "railroad" second track with Arabic numerals at each 10-second interval.”
  • “Arched, shaped bow above a fluted winding crown set on a round yellow-gold-toned case.”

Case Construction and Dimensions

The case has an outer diameter of 44.4 mm, increasing to 47.6 mm including the crown, and measures 10.5 mm in thickness. The vendor identifies the metal composition as 10K yellow rolled gold plate.

Case markings are reported in the listing text as "KEYSTONE Victory 10K Rolled Gold Plate 4761497". However, the movement and internal or external case back stampings are not visible in the provided primary photograph.

Evidence for this section
  • “Cased in a 44.4mm round case, 10K yellow rolled gold plate.”
  • “Case Back Markings: KEYSTONE Victory 10K Rolled Gold Plate 4761497”
  • “Measurements (mm): Case 44.4 Case w/Crown 47.6 Case Thickness 10.5”

Reported Movement and Accessories

The watch is powered by a reported Waltham manual-wind mechanical movement designated as Grade No. 1217, Model 1894, built in a 12s size. The listing transcribes the movement engraving as "Waltham 17 Jewels 28847907 U.S.A.", signifying a 17-jewel assembly.

The seller dates the watch to 1936 based on the movement details. Included with the pocket watch are a two-piece watch chain measuring 27 cm on each side and an original Waltham display presentation box.

Evidence for this section
  • “original Waltham mechanical movement grade No. 1217 featuring 17 jewels, model 1894, size 12s.”
  • “Movement: Waltham 17 Jewels 28847907 U.S.A.”
  • “It also comes with a two-piece pocket watch chain (27 cm each side) and the original Waltham display box.”

Open research questions

  • Does direct visual inspection of the movement confirm serial number 28847907, Grade No. 1217, Model 1894, and 17 jewels?
  • Are the reported 'KEYSTONE Victory' case markings located on the interior or exterior of the case back?
  • Does examination of the accompanying Waltham display box show original matching factory labeling for a 12s Model 1894 watch?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Waltham 17 Jewels Grade No. 1217 Openface Dress Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement GradeNo. 1217“original Waltham mechanical movement grade No. 1217”
Jewel Count17 Jewels“featuring 17 jewels”
Movement Serial28847907“Movement: Waltham 17 Jewels 28847907 U.S.A.”
Case Serial4761497“KEYSTONE Victory 10K Rolled Gold Plate 4761497”
Case Diameter44.4 mm“Cased in a 44.4mm round case”
Size12s“size 12s”
Case Thickness10.5 mm“Case Thickness 10.5”
Case Diameter with Crown47.6 mm“Case w/Crown 47.6”
Included Chain Length27 cm each side“two-piece pocket watch chain (27 cm each side)”
Movement ModelModel 1894“model 1894”

Visible details

  • Two-tone light dial featuring a circular center zone with vertical line texturing and a rectangular cartouche labeled 'WALTHAM'.
  • Open diamond-motif blued steel hour and minute hands.
  • Subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock with concentric circular finishing and a railroad seconds track.
  • Gold-toned Arabic numeral hour markers styled in an Art Deco typeface.
  • Arched, shaped bow above a fluted winding crown set on a round yellow-gold-toned case.

Research qualifications

  • The movement and interior case back markings are described in the listing text but not visible in the provided primary photograph.

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

Consulted source

1936 WALTHAM Dress Pocket Watch 17 Jewels No. 1217 Openface 12s - In O – SECOND HAND HOROLOGY

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 2f8140dc95

Terms in this record

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

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