What is the age and value of a model 1888 Waltham pocket watch with serial number 5832446?

Answer 1

Your watch is a Model 1888 (aka Model 88) Royal grade, size 16 watch with a hunter case (full case). It has a 15-jewel ruby movement, adjusted, and is stem-winding. The manufacture date appears to be sometime in mid-1894.

Placing a value on the watch is much more difficult because metal type, aesthetics, condition, etc., factor heavily into the equation. The value of the watch could run anywhere from $10 for a non-working movement in a nickle case to approximately $800 for a working movement in an attractive 14k gold case -- and anywhere in between.

The majority seen at auction seem to run from $100-450, which is often below the estimated value.

You would be wise to have the watch professionally appraised.

[December 2010]