Hello Mark,
Thank you for sending in this watch to mearto.com for an appraisal. I shall try to help you with that today.
TITLE:
Gent’s Sterling silver (0.935), key wound, open face pocket watch, dial unsigned, watch made in Switzerland, circa 1900-1910 and accompanied by a silver ringlet watch chain of the same era with T bar and a Presentation military medallion from Porthcawl, Wales, circa 1919.
DESCRIPTION:
CASE – Size not provided- this is a three leaf Sterling silver, open face pocket watch, with silver ball pendant and round bow placed at the twelve position. The back cover is engine turned Sterling silver with an engraved foliate design suggestive of the Art Nouveau era which ended c. 1910 and stressed the beauty of natural forms. The foliate engraving involves the center barrel of the case as well as the bezel around the dial. The interior of the cover is marked with the standing bears, the Swiss hallmark for sterling Silver grade silver or 0.935% silver and case number 42208. The pendant is attached to a ringlet white metal watch chain, likely silver made with alternating smaller and larger links with T-bar and a medallion with the Presentation on one side, “Presented to Private F.W. Brown, 15th Battalion, R.N. Lancer’s Regiment, April 1919” enclosed by a wreath of laurel leaves. The obverse is marked with the dragon symbol of Wales and marked Porthcawl, a seacoast town where there is a memorial to those who signed up in that Welsh town to fight in the Great War and did not make it back alive. (See history).
DIAL – White unsigned porcelain dial enameled with Roman hours, closed minute ring, and gilt Continental style steel spade hands.
MOVEMENT – Unfortunately not shown, but thought to be (most likely) a key wound and lever or key set movement with a half plate and finger bridge design with Swiss made index regulator, but most likely unsigned by the maker.
CONDITION:
CASE – The back cover is in excellent condition. The interior of the case is in good condition with some signs of wear. The chain, T-bar and fob are all in very good condition.
DIAL – Unfortunately, here is where the value is impacted in this set of items. There is a large compound fracture near the twelfth hour with fractures radiation from the center of the damage perhaps brought on by dropping the watch at some point. Also, there is no subsidiary seconds dial and no signed dial, both demerits of a minor degree.
MOVEMENT – Could not be properly evaluated but I will assume that the movement is original to this case, genuine and perhaps even functional.
HISTORY:
Evidence shows that men born in Porthcawl fought for Canadian, Australian, South African, West African and American as well as for British Regiments.
By the time the guns fell silent in November 1918 over 9 million men had lost their lives; 700,000 British of which 35,000 were Welshmen (280,000 Welshmen served in the Armed Forces). An estimated 3 million Britons lost a close relative. This impact of grief on British communities evoked the need for a lasting tribute to those who had died. The decade following the end of the war witnessed War Memorials being erected in most villages and towns throughout the British Isles. Communities planned, financed, built and unveiled their respective memorials. In Porthcawl, the War Memorial was unveiled in 1921 at a cost of £500 donated by local people. Those who donated had their loved one’s name inscribed onto the Roll of Honor. 77 First World War names were inscribed onto the Porthcawl Memorial. Research has revealed that they are not all Porthcawl soldiers. Research has, also, revealed that not all the names of Porthcawl soldiers are recorded.
COMPARABLES:
https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/lot/swiss-cylindre-huit-rubis-pocketwatch-5RijSbZ9IB (watch with chipped dial and silver case brought $5 at auction in 2017)
https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/lot/fourteen-pre-and-post-war-medals-and-awards-presented-to-ac-cars-ESklmgdYaM (14 Porthcawl medals for various causes sold in 2018 for $950 or about $68 per medal)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/1595341_56-porthcawl-golf-club-a-9ct-gold-medal-37mm-diamete (A 1907 solid gold medal from Porthcawl won by the winner of the gold tournament sold in 2006 for $2400 GBPounds)
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/medals-four-serjeant-c.-m.-lewis-south-afri-j8cfc0a8st (Four War medals awarded to Sergeant C. M. Lewis, South African Infantry sold in 2003. He was from Porthcawl and brought over 600 Pounds or $150 per medal.)
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-welsh-golfing-union-open-amateur-championship-s-b591462466 (Two Welsh golfing medals sold in 2010 for 168 pounds)
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-welsh-guards-great-war-casualty-victory-medal-d4df0f0c35 (A 1915 war medal awarded to a Welsh Guard failed to meet the 40 Pound low estimate in 2010)
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/fourteen-pre-and-post-war-medals-and-awards-pres-b4a4f72821 (Seven War medals sold in 2018 at Bonhams for about $125 each.)
PRICING:
This is a very nice grouping and all of the items are likely from the same decade of the early 20th century. This watch in perfect condition would bring about $150, but with the dial damage in today’s demanding watch market might fetch $50-$70. The chain and fob is valued at $20-$25. The fob medal by itself is likely worth $100-$150. So the unit taken altogether should have a fair market value of $170-$245.
I hope that this has been of some help to you. Thank you again for using mearto.com for the appraisal.
My best,
David