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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 original porcelain-enamel dial on this 1908 Waltham is truly one of a kind and absolutely flawless. The dial features an elegant Waltham signature in cursive script, complemented by bold Roman numerals. Typically, Roman numerals on dials of this period are slender and elongated, but this example features heavy, bold numerals. The outer minute track follows classic American railroad styling, with prominent indices at five-minute intervals. A fine circular line separates the inner and outer portions of the dial. The original Breguet hands are equally distinctive, with a bold profile that perfectly complements the weight and styling of the Roman numerals. Each hand was individually polished to remove surface corrosion before being carefully heated over an alcohol lamp to produce a rich, iridescent blue finish. This is the same traditional coloring process used by American watchmakers in the early 1900s, allowing us to restore the hands using techniques consistent with those employed at the time of manufacture. As light moves across the hands, they shift through brilliant shades of blue, providing exceptional contrast against the flawless white porcelain-enamel dial. The combination of bold Roman numerals, beautifully restored Breguet hands, and immaculate enamel makes this one of the cleanest, most visually striking examples of early American dial design we have ever restored.
Beneath the dial, the timepiece is powered by Waltham’s Royal grade, a 17-jewel in-house movement. Every component was carefully serviced and restored in our workshop in Little Rock, Arkansas. The jewel chatons, gear train, balance, and balance weights were individually hand polished to revive their original warm, 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 color and visual contrast (read more here). More than a century after its manufacture, this timepiece brings together Waltham’s exceptional mechanical craftsmanship, an immaculate porcelain-enamel dial, and the meticulous restoration work completed in our workshop. The result is a remarkable example of early American watchmaking, preserved for another generation of use.
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: 260 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: 1908
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: 17040368
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.