FINE Mens 18s Hunter Case Dueber Hampden Pocket Watch BEAUTIFULLY ENGRAVED. w/ STAG. CIRCA 1892 - SERVICED! Start Price USD 775.00 Current Price USD 775.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 795.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, August 24, 2008 End Time Sunday, August 31, 2008 Location Tampa, Florida See more about 'FINE Mens 18s Hunter Case Dueber Hampden Pocket Watch' Description Voted Forbes magazine's "Best of the Web" seven years in a row First there was Don. J. Mozart who, in the Civil War era, produced his horologically significant three-wheel watch. Then there was the prolific New York Watch Company and finally, Hampden Watch Company of Canton, Ohio. By the late 19th century Hampden was competing quite effectively against the "Big Four": Elgin, Waltham, Illinois and Hamilton. Creators of the first 23 jewel pocketwatch --designed specifically for railroad service -- Hampden produced excellent timepieces that were not inexpensive. It might have been this attention to detail that was their undoing: The "Big Four" saw the success of the 23 jewel watch, borrowed the idea, and in 1925, put Hampden out of business. Dueber-Hampden Watch Company, known for their obsessive attention to detail, produced watches that were exciting, elegant, and extraordinarily well-crafted. Their exceptional timepieces are well-respected by collectors to this day. How could one resist the powerful elegance of such a man's watch! This large, 18 size pocketwatch by the venerable Hampden Watch Company exudes class the likes of which we haven't seen in 100 years. A gorgeous porcelain dial is highlighted by Roman numerals, an outer minutes "track" and marked "HAMPDEN WATCH COMPANY" in a florid script below the "12." An oversized sub-seconds bit is micro-graduated; long elegantly blued hands gesture the time. The watch is housed in its original, solid yellow gold-filled, hand-carved case outlined with majestic flourishes impossible to find duplicated today. Pocket watch case carving flourished through the latter half of the 19th century and into the first quarter of the 20th. Artisans flocked to the United States from around the work, eager to find a venue by which to earn a living and through which they could express their creative urges. For many, the artistic medium of choice was the pocket watch case. These talented, anonymous artists worked throughout the day, quietly creating works of art on watch case after watch case, painstakingly carving freehand with hand tools on a graving ball. Taken for granted for nearly a century, these creations are finally being given the credit they deserve, as more collectors seek out watches based solely on the quality of their case carving. Take a moment to admire the work of this artist: Starting with a smooth, heavy gold-filled case, he or she used a set of sharp graving tools to carefully carve a floral scene on the back. Note the different "brush strokes" of the artist: bold lines to outline the petals, tight lines for shading a half-a human hair apart — all to create a Victorian floral scene that, if on canvas, would be worth thousands. Hand-engraved "To My Husband/Christmas, 1890" in magnificent period script, this case is a masterpiece. Unsnap this lovely back and you'll find another work of art: a completely cleaned, oiled and calibrated 17 ruby jeweled movement in solid nickel plated, engineered by the remarkable minds of Hampden. With its fancy regulator, compensated balance and solid gold screw-jewel settings, it struck fear in the Swiss watchmakers of the day -- most of whom were still locked in a bucolic cottage industry. During the latter part of the 19th century, if one wanted a precision timepiece that could be easily repaired and regulated, one purchased American. This example illuminates why. Please take a moment to admire the sheer excellence of this "Railway" marked movement. If you're looking for a watch to carry and admire while being admired; or, you're searching for a gift to reflect the generosity of the giver, this may be for you. As many of our fine buyers and repeat clients know, each day we offer a smattering of things we've picked up here and there, many fine watches and pieces of jewelry that for one reason or another we'll not be offering on our Web site -- some new old stock! Take a moment to look through our eBay offerings and bypass the estate and yard sale madness for watches and outstanding pieces of Victorian and Deco jewelry -- many of which are running and pristine -- that are ridiculously underpriced. Watches this week include a '20s ladies antique watch or two, '30s Deco pieces, a '40s military style wristwatch, and fine Retro stainless steel wristwatches that are representative of a style that’s becoming all the rage; as well as gold rings and vintage wire lug examples perfect for restoration. Coming up are sterling silver wristwatches and a few items dug out of the workbench drawer of a retired watchmaker or two. Don't know anything about wristwatches? Have no idea about your grandfather's railroad pocket watch? We're one of the Web's largest vintage wrist and pocket watch dealers and are delighted to answer any questions you have about the timepieces we offer or those heirlooms you're unsure of. We extend a heartfelt invitation to see our other offerings and stop by each week to find out what's next! Add Me to Your Favorite Sellers We take great pride in our images and item descriptions and are careful to note as much about an item as we can. However, this is an auction and we do not sell auction items on approval; therefore, all items we sell on eBay are sold AS IS and all sales are final. If you have a question or would like to see the image of an item at another angle, we are happy to accommodate you before auction's end. If you have any doubts about our reputation (check our feedback) or our offerings, please don't bid. WE WILL NOT GIVE PARTIAL REFUNDS!!!!! Thank you to our responsible customers who have paid us promptly! Out of respect for those of our customers who go to the trouble to pay promptly, we will be forced to file a non-paying bidder claim with eBay and leave negative feedback for those who bid irresponsibly. If you do not intend to pay, do not bid. SHIPPING: All bidders to pay actual shipping costs. WE ARE HAPPY TO COMBINE SHIPPING ON MULTIPLE ITEMS. We ship via USPS in the United States. Federal Express to our overseas customers or by USPS. International buyers MUST email us at auction's end and we will calculate shipping costs. Because of the unpredictable nature of today's mail, we cannot be held responsible for items lost or damaged by the post office or UPS, and so recommend postal insurance. Your bid acknowledges that you understand this policy. INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS: WE DO NOT SHIP TO MALAYSIA. All other international bidders are welcome, but please note it is our policy to ship via registered airmail for security reasons. If you do not wish to pay for registered mail, you must take responsibility if the package does not arrive to you. We will not falsify customs forms. All customs fees are the responsibility of the buyer. Payment must be received within seven days of auction's end or bidder forfeits right-of-purchase. We prefer PayPal payments, but accept money orders, personal checks and credit cards. If paying by check, items will be held for 10 days. PayPal and money order payments are sent out upon receipt. Strickland Vintage Watches is a member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, American Watchmaker's Institute, and have served as timepiece appraisers for Eppraisals.com. We also have been honored as one of Forbes magazine's "Best of the Web" in timepieces, and are long-standing eBay Powersellers, in our ninth year on eBay. We invite you to find out more about us by clicking on our ME page! Place a Bid!