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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch

Waltham Hillside Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This open-face pocket watch is a size 16 piece produced by the Waltham Watch Company. The watch features a sterling silver case measuring 47mm in diameter, which includes a decorative blank shield on the reverse for engraving purposes. The white porcelain dial displays black Roman numeral hour markers, gold-colored pointers, and a recessed subsidiary seconds dial at the six o'clock position. The internal movement is a Hillside grade, 13-jewel mechanism with a gilded three-quarter plate construction and adjusted regulation. The movement includes screw-down jewel settings and carries the maker's signature. The case was marked by Alfred Bedford, who served as the manager of the London branch for the Waltham Watch Company, and contains Birmingham silver hallmarks dating to 1895. The auction description reports that the watch maintains accurate timekeeping, although specific details regarding the history of past technical maintenance or internal component conditions are not provided.

Front view of the Waltham open-face pocket watch showing the porcelain dial and gold-colored pointers.
Front view of the Waltham open-face pocket watch showing the porcelain dial and gold-colored pointers. — Ashton-Blakey Antiques. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Waltham
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1895
Source-reported place
United States
Source-reported serial
6198046

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

Case and Dial

The watch is housed in an open-face sterling silver case that measures 47 millimeters in diameter. The exterior back of the case features a decorative shield area, intentionally left blank to allow for the potential addition of personalized initials. The watch utilizes a white porcelain dial, which carries black-painted Roman numeral hour markers and a secondary dial for seconds, positioned at the six o'clock mark. The hands are gold in color, providing contrast against the white dial face.

The case carries hallmark stamps from the Birmingham assay office, identifying the production year as 1895. The production of the case is attributed to Alfred Bedford, the individual who managed the Waltham Watch Company’s branch in London during this period. These markings serve as the primary indicators for both the age and the specific regional origin of the casing.

Evidence for this section
  • “بدنه‌ای از جنس نقره استرلینگ”
  • “قطر قاب آن ۴۷ میلی‌متر”
  • “نشان‌های اصالت‌سنجی نقره (هالمارک) بیرمنگام مربوط به سال ۱۸۹۵ میلادی”
  • “قاب این ساعت توسط Alfred Bedford، مدیر وقت شعبه لندن والتهام، نشان‌گذاری شده است.”

Movement and Mechanism

The internal movement is identified as a Hillside grade caliber, characterized by a gilded three-quarter plate structure. This mechanical movement is configured with 13 jewels, which are secured using screw-down settings. The caliber is reported as being adjusted for precision, and the movement plates bear the manufacturer's signature. The construction reflects the specific technical standards applied to the Hillside grade during the late 19th century.

Operational functionality is noted as being good, with the movement providing accurate and smooth timekeeping performance. While the mechanism appears complete based on available documentation, there are no records detailing the history of professional servicing or the current status of internal components, such as springs or escapement parts.

Evidence for this section
  • “موتور ساعت دارای درجه Hillside و مجهز به ۱۳ سنگ قیمتی است”
  • “ساختار سه‌چهارم صفحه (three quarter plate) طلاکاری‌شده دارد”
  • “وضعیت کارکرد این ساعت بسیار خوب، دقیق و روان توصیف شده است”

Provenance and Condition

The documentation for this watch is derived from materials provided by the seller, Ashton-Blakey Antiques. The information regarding the manufacture, dating, and assembly of the piece rests upon the seller's assessment of the hallmarks and internal movement specifications. The watch is presented as an antique timepiece originating from the Waltham factory, with the case reflecting the specific operational context of the London branch managed by Bedford.

Current condition information, including the assessment of timekeeping performance, is supplied by the vendor. This information has not been subject to independent expert verification. There is no specific data available regarding the frequency of past technical interventions or the overall integrity of the watch’s internal wear parts, such as the mainspring, beyond the general reported status of functionality.

Evidence for this section
  • “اطلاعات، مشخصات و ادعاهای مربوط به وضعیت این ساعت مستقیماً از اطلاعات فروشنده اقتباس شده”
  • “وضعیت کارکرد این ساعت بسیار خوب، دقیق و روان توصیف شده است”

Open research questions

  • What specific adjustments were made to the Hillside grade movement during the 1895 production cycle?
  • Are there archival production logs that correlate serial number 6198046 with the specific case maker Alfred Bedford?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Waltham Hillside Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerWaltham“ساخت کمپانی WALTHAM”
GradeHillside“درجه Hillside”
Jewels13“مجهز به ۱۳ سنگ قیمتی”
Case MaterialSterling Silver“بدنه‌ای از جنس نقره استرلینگ”
Case Size16“اندازه ۱۶ (Size 16)”
Case Diameter47mm“قطر قاب آن ۴۷ میلی‌متر”
Hallmark LocationBirmingham“نشان‌های اصالت‌سنجی نقره (هالمارک) بیرمنگام”

Visible details

  • Case features a blank central decorative shield for personalization
  • White porcelain dial includes a subsidiary seconds register
  • Movement is a gilded three-quarter plate design
  • Case carries Birmingham silver hallmarks indicating the year 1895

Research qualifications

  • Historical service records are not available
  • Full extent of component originality remains unverified by independent examination

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

Consulted source

ساعت جیبی نقره اوپن‌فیس WALTHAM مدل Hillside سال ۱۸۹۵

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 4d80d1204c

Terms in this record

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

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