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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.
The porcelain-enamel dial on this Waltham from 1904 was custom made for Simons Bro. & Co., a prominent Philadelphia jewelry and watch firm with roots dating to the nineteenth century. Instead of the typical Waltham signature at center, the dial is signed “Simons Bro. & Co. / Philadelphia,” connecting the piece to one of Philadelphia’s longstanding jewelry houses. Simons Bro. & Co. operated from locations on Sansom and Chestnut Streets and was known for its jewelry, watches, diamonds, silverware, and other finely made goods. It is an incredible piece of American watchmaking history that connects Waltham’s manufacturing in Massachusetts with one of Philadelphia’s prominent jewelers at the turn of the twentieth century. Beneath the dial, the timepiece is powered by Waltham’s Royal grade, a 17-jewel in-house movement that was also custom branded for the jeweler. In place of the typical Waltham signature, the movement plates are signed “Simons Bro. & Co. / Philadelphia,” making both the dial and movement part of the same private-label commission. In our workshop in Little Rock, Arkansas, every component was carefully refinished. The jewel settings, gear train, and balance components were hand polished to restore their original golden brilliance. Each screw and piece of steel hardware was thermally blued by hand over an alcohol lamp, a traditional process that enhances corrosion resistance while adding rich visual contrast (read more here). More than 120 years after it was manufactured, the matching Simons Bro. & Co. signatures on the dial and movement preserve a tangible connection between Waltham’s watchmaking in Massachusetts and Philadelphia’s historic jewelry trade.
The timepiece is encased in our surgical grade 316L stainless steel conversion case, designed with adjustable lugs for easy winding and setting, ensuring a comfortable fit across various wrist sizes. The case includes front, back, and crown gaskets, providing water resistance up to 50 meters, though it is recommended to remove the watch before engaging in water activities. The timepiece comes fully serviced and ready for your next adventure.
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: 1899
Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel
Jewels: 17 jewels
Case Diameter: 44 mm
Front Crystal: Domed AR coated sapphire
Back Crystal: Flat AR coated sapphire
Case Material: 316L stainless
Lug width: 22 mm
Lug to Lug: 47 mm (52 mm with crown)
Height: 13 mm
Serial Number: 7277554
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.