• Apprentice
    24 Nov 2011, 12:25 p.m.

    Hi Everyone, new here. I was listening to a talkback watch collector in the car on the way home from work and they talked about vintage watches. It made me pull out my inherited pocket watch and look into it. I was hoping someone here could possibly indentify it for me, and possibly value it as well. Whilst the casing is a bit aged a god polish and clean will do the trick, the watch works perfectly.

    It is an International Pocket Watch, the front says made in england underneath the international branding.

    The outer casing has the following serial number 424135, and the rear part say STAR then underneath Denison Watch Case Co with about 14 different numbers hand engraved all around that casing part.

    The back casing says English Make, Guaranteed to Wear 10 Years with the serial 424135 and stamped 14 underneath of it.

    Looking at the movement mechanism it says 7 jewels and serial 163481.

    Any thoughts and input would be welcome. I was going to take it to a watchmakers and get it cleaned and tidied up.

    Here are some photos
    Old international cicra 1890's -1910?

  • 24 Nov 2011, 2:09 p.m.

    Hi Grant,

    I know, I know, the name appears identical but your family heirloom wasn't made by International Watch Company, Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

    Back then the name wasn't as protected by international copyrights and trade name conventions. Your heirloom was made by a company in England that didn't survive and candidly made lesser watches. The 10 year guarantee generally was used on gold-filled cases, and Denison made excellent English cases (IWC's UK distributor occasionally used them too).

  • Apprentice
    24 Nov 2011, 2:28 p.m.

    Thanks very much for your inpout michael. Much appreciated. I will try and find out more info on it then.

    Cheers

    Grant

  • Master
    24 Nov 2011, 8:35 p.m.

    Hi Grant,

    I suspect the watch was made by H. Williamson after 1905, they have an identical layout and are marked both 7 Jewels and Warranted English.

    Cheers from the cellar

  • Apprentice
    25 Nov 2011, 6:10 a.m.

    Thanks Cellar

    Doing a bit of research on H Williamson is very difficult, mainly just a standard bio out there, and am unable to find anything similar picture wise.

    Hard yards, but appreciate your response. :-)

  • Master
    25 Nov 2011, 6:28 a.m.

    Hi Grant,

    I hadn't notice your location. Send an email across Bass Strait and I'll forward you some data. Email address below.

    Cheers from the cellar