American Waltham Watch Co. Pocket Watch, ca. 1887

Appraised on: August 4, 2007

Appraised in: Spokane, Washington

Appraised by: Kevin Zavian

Category: Clocks & Watches

Episode Info: Greatest Gifts (#1620)
Spokane (#1212)

Originally Aired: April 14, 2008

IMAGE: 1 of 4  

Appraisal Video: (1:25)

GUEST: It was a gift from a friend, and I do know that his grandfather purchased it here in a jewelry store in Spokane for about 60 bucks in clearance in the late '60s.

APPRAISER: Do you know who made the watch?

GUEST: I thought it was a company by the name of Williams.

APPRAISER: I hate to disappoint you, it's not Williams.

GUEST: It's not Williams?

APPRAISER: It's not Williams. It's the American Waltham Watch Company of Waltham, Massachusetts.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: We look at the front, you see a classic porcelain dial with Roman numerals. And we open up the main cover and then we open up the dust cover and you can see right up on top it says "American Waltham Watch Company." This watch was made sometime around 1887. It's a repeater. Waltham made very, very few repeating watches, and this one is in like-new condition in a case that's absolutely perfect. Let's just show everybody how you activate the repeater. You take this slide over here, you pull it down... (chiming) ...and then you can hear it chiming. It's just extra crisp. You can see all the engine turning is perfect. Any thoughts on the price?

GUEST: Uh, probably a couple hundred bucks. I mean, you see them in pawn shops all the time. So I wouldn't know...

APPRAISER: Get out of here.

GUEST: I really wouldn't know.

APPRAISER: We figure this is probably, on the conservative side at auction, $6,000 to $8,000.

GUEST: Holy smokes! I'm gonna have to give that watch back.

APPRAISER: You're a good man.

GUEST: Thanks!