Collecting Waltham Pocket Watches
From its beginnings in 1850 until the doors closed on the Waltham Watch Company in 1957, Waltham Watches have been synonymous with quality, American craftsmanship.Today the Waltham Watch Company is owned by MZ Berger and Company and still makes watches bearing the Waltham name.However, these are not the same, authentic watches those familiar with the Waltham name will recognize.For an original, American made Waltham watch, you will need to get one that was made prior to 1957.If you are unsure, the year of the watch can be determined by the serial numbers.
If you are interested in collecting Waltham watches, the first thing you should do is research their history and become familiar with the types of watches made.Waltham pocket watches are among the most famous antique pocket watches available and are often compared to its similar counterparts of Howard, Hamilton, Illinois and Elgin. One of the benefits of collecting Waltham watches is the ability to authenticate its manufacture date.All Waltham watch movements were engraved with a serial number that can be cross referenced by searching an online database.This is a great way of ensuring you are getting a genuine Waltham.
Ensuring the authenticity of the watch is very important when purchasing a high dollar item and to ensure the watch is actually worth what you are paying for it.Some sellers will take parts of different watches and put them together to make a replica.Even if all the parts are antique, it is not an actual Waltham watch.You may like it for personal use but be careful when buying it that the value is not overstated.Supply and demand as well as rarity of a particular watch dictate its value.While rare watches typically demand a higher price, if the demand is not there and the watch is not appealing, you can get it a much cheaper price than items with a larger supply but an equally larger demand.
There are various styles of Waltham watch available and you should become familiar with them to see what you prefer. You should also only purchase watches from reputable dealers with a proven track record and get some type of guarantee in writing in case the authenticity of the watch is questioned. When you become familiar with the type of watch you prefer, you should research value ranges to see what you should expect to pay for one. Get a high, low and median price in your head and compare that to asking prices from sellers.
