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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch

Waltham Traveler open-face pocket watch

Partially verified

This open-face pocket watch features a mechanical movement manufactured by the American Waltham Watch Company, housed in a 14k yellow gold case. The seller reports the case measures approximately 47 mm in diameter, carries serial number 39791, and includes an inner dust cover inscribed with the retailer name 'W. Scholly R’dam'. The manual crown-wound movement is stated to be a 7-jewel Traveler grade with serial number 18844815, dating to circa 1912. The white dial displays Roman numerals, outer five-minute calibrations, and a subsidiary seconds subdial at 6 o'clock.

Front view of the Waltham open-face pocket watch with white dial, Roman numerals, and subsidiary seconds
Front view of the Waltham open-face pocket watch with white dial, Roman numerals, and subsidiary seconds — Bushells Antiques / Proantic. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.proantic.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch
Maker / attribution
American Waltham Watch Company
Reference
1763734
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
circa 1912
Source-reported place
United States
Source-reported serial
18844815

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 Hands

The white enamel dial features Roman numeral hour markers, an outer five-minute calibration rail-track, and a subsidiary seconds subdial at 6 o'clock. The subdial contains a distinctive red Arabic numeral '12'.

Observations of the provided image show the dial is inscribed 'A. W. W. Co. WALTHAM MASS.' at the 12 o'clock position, which deviates from the seller's description citing a signature of 'American Waltham U.S.A. TRAVELER'. Additionally, the hands appear gold or brass-toned in the photograph rather than the blued steel described by the seller.

Evidence for this section
  • “White dial is inscribed 'A. W. W. Co. WALTHAM MASS.' beneath the 12 o'clock numeral.”
  • “Subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock features a distinctive red Arabic numeral 12.”
  • “The white enamel dial is signed "American Waltham U.S.A. TRAVELER"”
  • “The hands are blued steel.”

Case Construction and Markings

The watch is housed in an open-face, 14k yellow gold case measuring approximately 47 mm in diameter. The total weight is reported at 75.3 grams. Exterior features include engine-turned engraving and a central circular cartouche.

Internal markings include a 14k purity stamp and case serial number 39791. The inner dust cover is engraved with the retailer inscription 'W. Scholly R’dam'.

A fluted winding crown and rounded bow are positioned at 12 o'clock, and a hinged bezel lip is observable at the 6 o'clock position.

Evidence for this section
  • “The internal case back is stamped with a 14K purity mark and the case serial number 39791.”
  • “The inner dust cover is engraved with the retailer inscription "W. Scholly R’dam,"”
  • “The case measures approximately 47mm in diameter”
  • “The total item weight is approximately 75.3 grams.”

Movement

The timepiece utilizes a keyless, manual crown-wound movement reported as a 7-jewel Waltham Traveler grade. The plates are described as having a frosted gilt finish.

The movement is engraved with serial number 18844815. These internal mechanical details and the associated production date of circa 1912 are reported by the seller and are not visible in the provided imagery.

Evidence for this section
  • “The internal mechanical movement is a Waltham Traveler grade with 7 jewels”
  • “engraved with the serial number 18844815, which corresponds to a production date of approximately 1912.”

Open research questions

  • Does the serial number 18844815 confirm the movement is a 'Traveler' grade?
  • Is there historical evidence of the retailer 'W. Scholly' in Rotterdam and their association with Waltham watches?
  • Does the presence of a red '12' on a subsidiary seconds subdial indicate a specific production series or later dial customization?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Waltham Traveler open-face pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case purity14K gold“The internal case back is stamped with a 14K purity mark”
Case serial number39791“the case serial number 39791.”
Movement jewel count7 jewels“The internal mechanical movement is a Waltham Traveler grade with 7 jewels”
Movement serial number18844815“engraved with the serial number 18844815”
Retailer inscriptionW. Scholly R’dam“The inner dust cover is engraved with the retailer inscription "W. Scholly R’dam,"”
Total item weight75.3 grams“The total item weight is approximately 75.3 grams.”
Total length66 mm“with a total length of 66mm including the crown and bow.”

Visible details

  • White dial is inscribed 'A. W. W. Co. WALTHAM MASS.' beneath the 12 o'clock numeral.
  • Subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock features a distinctive red Arabic numeral 12.
  • Hands appear gold-toned or brass-toned in the photograph, rather than blued steel as stated by the dealer.
  • Top-winding fluted crown and rounded bow are positioned at 12 o'clock.
  • Hinged bezel lip visible around the 6 o'clock position on the gold-toned case.

Research qualifications

  • The dial inscription visible in the photograph reads 'A. W. W. Co. WALTHAM MASS.', contradicting the seller's text describing it as 'American Waltham U.S.A. TRAVELER'.
  • Hands appear gold-toned rather than blued steel as listed in the seller description.
  • Movement details, frosted gilt finish, and internal hallmarks are source-reported and not visible in the provided image.

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

Consulted source

Proantic: 14k Gold Waltham Traveler Open Face Pocket Watch 1912 7j W.

Reviewed 2026-10-22 · Record 25c6bd1c86

Terms in this record

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

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