Waltham 1908-Royal Lever Set Variant.

My previous post was on the 1899 & 1908 Royal Grade, this is a rare Lever Set version from 1919.

A total of around seventy-five thousand 1899 & 1908 Royal grade movements were made but they are normally pendant set. The production records show that only five production runs totalling 4,000 movements included some open faced lever set variants, what the proportion was is not known, all are 1908 models dating from 1919 or later.

Apart from the lever setting the movement is the same as the 1908 pendant set version.

Waltham 1899-Royal & 1908-Royal

This is one of a series of posts illustrating the main grades of Waltham size 16 watches, primarily the 1899 & 1908 models. Note that specifications did change over time, the description below being typical.

The 1899 and 1908 versions are essentially the same and so can be treated together.

These were one of the highest grades before getting to the Railroad grades and their "civilianised" variants. The damascened nickel movement has 17 Jewels, a Swiss lever escapement with a Breguet Sprung cut compensating balance with micro adjuster and is adjusted for temperature and three positions. The top jewels are screw set in gold mountings and it has a gold centre wheel.

The example shown, which has just been restored, has an unusual 3 piece plain dial and which probably originally had a retailers name applied, (see related posts on watch face construction and on  blank dials).

Two Tone Waltham 1892 Royal

A rare and very attractive size 18 1892-Royal Two Tone from 1896/7 just finished restoration. It is pendant set and the Swiss Lever movement has 17 Jewels and a Breguet sprung cut compensating balance with single roller.

Probably as much that is known about the production history of this  grade and model is on this specialist site so I will not repeat it here.