• Apprentice
    2 Apr 2021, 5:49 p.m.

    I have an old
    "Jones" pocketwatch that my mother found in my father's dresser
    when he passed and gave to me. I believe it once belong to my grandfather who
    found it. On the works it is marked DH Craig, New York, Elson's Patent, and
    No. 896 . I wrote into the Forum a couple years ago to try and find out abount
    this watch and was told it was an early "Jones" and that DH Craig was the
    model named after his mother and that the low number was significant. I am
    still trying to find out more about this piece and would appreciate any help.

  • 3 Apr 2021, 10:13 a.m.

    Hello Connie,

    great Jones you have, love it.

    From time to time, the low number Jones calibers pop up, always nice to see.

    Nickel plated movement, H pattern, what is not to love.

  • Master
    3 Apr 2021, 2:57 p.m.

    Dear Connie,

    The earlier Jones watches were often engraved with a name on the movement e.g.
    : D.H. Craig, Romney, Stuyvesant, Bradley, Burns.

    The origin of those names is not always clear. Some were family members of
    F.A. Jones, some maybe sponsors.

    However, the origin of D.H. Craig has been researched by a Jones expert of the
    Forum : Thomas Koenig.

    He wrote an article on the topic , which you can find on the Forum. Go to
    'Collectors Articles' and select : 'D.H. Craig-The Entrepreneurial Godfather
    of F.A. Jones? by Thomas Koenig.

    The 'Elson's Patent refers to the invention of Elson concering a fine
    adjustment of the movement and was not an invention from Jones or IWC.

    As it is assumed that the first 500 serial numbers have not been used by
    Jones, your watch is an extremely early one, of the best quality and very
    rare.

    Regards,

    Adrian,

    (alwaysiwc)

  • Apprentice
    5 Apr 2021, 2:41 p.m.

    Dear Adrian,

    Thank you for telling me more about the pocket watch.

    I will definately look up the Collectors Articles you mentioned.

    Sincerely,

    Connie