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American Waltham Watch Co. was in operation from 1852-1957 and was an American pocket watch manufacturer. Manufacturing of Waltham watches took place at their facility in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Some watches stop us in our tracks, and a timepiece from 1892 with its original double-sunk porcelain-enamel railroad dial and restored moon hands certainly will. But the real standout feature of this pre-1900s Waltham is its 17-jewel movement—almost never seen in this size, where most examples max out at 16 jewels. Dial side, the piece retains its original double-sunk railroad dial. This classic railroad aesthetic required firing three separate porcelain-enamel sections before assembling them into a single dial. The stepped construction gives the dial its layered depth and crisp visual separation—a hallmark of the railroad style that single-layer dials simply cannot replicate. The original moon hands were fully restored by hand. Corrosion was polished away, the steel was brought back to a mirror finish, and each hand was then thermally blued over an alcohol lamp with careful heat control. The final finish mirrors what these hands looked like in 1892 and delivers exceptional contrast against the white enamel surface. Inside is Waltham Grade S, a proprietary 17-jewel variant produced only from 1891 to 1897. The movement features 17 jewels, an exposed mainspring barrel finished in a rose-gold gilt tone, and sweeping damaskeening across the plates. Every component was meticulously refinished in our Little Rock workshop. Jewel settings, the gear train, and the balance assembly were hand-polished to restore their bright gold tone. Screws and hardware were individually heat-blued over an open flame to enhance contrast and corrosion resistance (read more here). The result is a timepiece that looks unbelievable when you consider it left the factory more than two centuries ago. The 1800s never looked so good.
The timepiece is housed in our 40 mm surgical-grade 316L stainless steel conversion case—one of the most balanced and wearable sizes for any American conversion. The case features both crown and caseback gaskets, offering water resistance up to 50 meters, though it is best to remove the watch before swimming or submerging it in water. Fully serviced and tested, the piece is ready for years of reliable performance and everyday wear.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 280 degrees
Beat Error: 1.5 ms
Frequency: 18,000 (5 beats per second)
Power Reserve: 24-30 hours
Complication: Sub second hand
Watch Specifications
Manufacture: Waltham
Location: Waltham, Massachusetts
Year Manufactured: 1892
Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel (excellent)
Jewels: 17 jewels
Case Diameter: 40 mm
Front Crystal: Domed sapphire
Back Crystal: Flat sapphire
Case Material: 316L stainless
Lug width: 20 mm
Lug to Lug: 48 mm
Height: 13 mm
Original Case Included: No
Serial Number: 5709543
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.