Waltham 16S 23J lever set (LS) adj. 5p Vanguard pocket watch #23177509, beautiful nickel bridge layout movement with raised gold jewel settings (GJS), a gold center wheel and an elaborate checkerboard damascene pattern with a wavy line concentric circle border, double sunk (DS) porcelain enamel Montgomery-style dial with fancy Arabic numbers, red & black Arabic 1-60 minute markers and a black-marked subsidiary seconds register has a few faint hairlines, bold blue steel spade & whip style hands.
Impressive yellow gold filled (YGF) fully engraved screw back & bezel (SB&B) case with angled line engraving behind a detailed art-deco themed design of geometric and floral patterns around the edge and meeting in the center above an elaborate monogram shield, small fancy monogram in the shield reads "1937 PD", vermicelli engraved bezels, leaf engraved frame, a short heavy smooth polish pendant supporting a recessed crown, a heavy square bow and a thick glass crystal, case is showing light normal wear with very little smoothing to the various engravings and a few small spots of brass on the bow, the crystal does have a few short scratches and we can replace it with a new plastic crystal at no charge
on request, measures approx. 50mm in diameter x 65mm in length x 14mm thick (crystal included). A beautifully finished high quality railroad grade Waltham from the early 1900s in excellent+ overall condition!
- Year Made: 1919-1920
- Company:
Waltham
-
Movement Size:
0516S
- Jewels: 0523J
- Setting/Movement Type:
lever set
- Adjustments: 5 positions
- Model/Grade: Vanguard
- Serial #: 23177509
- Movement Finish: nickel
- Movement Details: bridge layout, gold jewel settings (GJS), raised jewel settings, gold center wheel
- Dial Material: porcelain enamel
- Dial Details:
double sunk (DS), Montgomery style
- Hand Style:
spade & whip
- Case Style:
SB&B
-
Case Material:
Gold Filled - Yellow
- Case Details:
thick glass crystal, "1937 PD" monogram
-
Case Width/Diameter:
50mm (1.97 inches)
-
Case Length, bow included:
65mm (2.56 inches)
-
Case Thickness:
14mm (0.55 inches)
- Crystal Material: glass
- Condition:
Excellent +
-
Gender:
Gentlemen's
The Waltham watch company, and the earlier American Waltham Watch Co., which had a variety of locations over the many years it was in operation (including Waltham, Massachusetts), was in business from 1851-1957, and was one of the most prolific of the American watch companies.
As an additional resource, we've posted a
Serial Number Production List which includes information for Waltham serial numbers and dates of manufacture.
The NAWCC also has a
comprehensive article about the company; additional information may also be found on
Wikipedia.
You may browse all of our men's pocket watches from this manufacturer at our
Vintage Men's Waltham Pocket Watches category.
This watch is in good running condition, unless otherwise noted in the description. This means that on receipt, pending any item-specific running conditions noted in the description, you can expect the watch to be winding and setting properly and to run smoothly while keeping reasonable time. We consider "reasonable time" to meet these basic guidelines:
- Railroad Grade Watches will be keeping +/- 5 minutes per day
- Pocket and Wrist Watches with 15 or more jewels will be keeping +/- 10 minutes per day
- All key wind watches and watches with 14 or fewer jewels will be keeping +/- 15 minutes per day
The above guideline is the lowest standard in which we would ship out a watch, however in most cases, you will see much better timekeeping. Most of our watches have been in storage for many years, so if you plan on carrying/wearing them everyday, you should consider having them cleaned and oiled soon, and then once a year thereafter to keep them in top running condition. If the watches will be for occasional use or display, they should be cleaned and serviced every 3 to 5 years depending on use.
As of September 18th, 2025, we are not offering a cleaning and service option through PM Time Service. While we do hope to offer this again in the future, we are unfortunately unable to meet customer requests for watch servicing at this time. Please note that, unless otherwise mentioned within the "Full Description" tab, this watch is being sold in good running condition and is ready to wear or carry on arrival.
This watch comes complete with an appropriate, intact glass crystal; however, on request PM Time Service can replace the current crystal on this pocket watch for you. We offer a number of new and vintage crystal choices for pocket watches; you can select your desired choice from the dropdown menu below.
Please note that the average turnaround time for all pocket watch crystal replacements will be two days from the placement of the order.
Contact us with any further questions or for an estimate on any shipping delays.
Please note: if you add this watch with a crystal and/or band exchange option to your
shopping cart but later change your mind on the crystal and/or band selection type, you'll need to remove the watch from the cart in order to make a new selection. Once that is done, you can return to this page and add that new crystal and/or band combination to the cart. We apologize for the limitations to our system that prevent you from making that change within the shopping cart.
This is considered a "railroad-grade" pocket watch. To be a railroad-grade watch, the following criteria must be met:
- be 16S or 18S
- have 17 or more jewels
- be lever set
- be in an open face case
- be adjusted to 5 or more positions.
- have easily-legible Arabic dial numerals
In order to ensure the accuracy of pocket watches used by railroad employees, with the ultimate goal of preventing train accidents, the General Railroad Timepiece Standards Commission published a set of guidelines for railroad companies and watch manufacturers in 1893. These guidelines, which specified the criteria for a railroad-grade watch, were prepared by Webb C. Ball, the general time inspector of North American railroads and founder of the Ball Watch Company.
For more information, visit this
Wikipedia article on railroad chronometers or this
Smithsonian National Postal Museum article on the influential train wreck tragedy that resulted in the establishment of railroad watch standards.
Our entire collection of such timepieces may also be viewed at our
Railroad Grade Watches category.
Unlike modern quartz watches, most vintage watches need daily winding in order to keep the watch functioning for timekeeping. Additionally, there are a number of different ways to set the time other than simply pulling the crown away from the watch body. We are happy to provide an overview of each of the different setting types on our
"How To Use" page, where we also provide information on proper winding techniques for each style and some suggestions for the proper long term care and storage of your watch.
For your gift giving convenience, please find a consolidated overview of the information on this item, with no reference to the price, on this
printer-optimized page.
