Waltham 18S 21J lever set (LS) adj. Vanguard pocket watch #7021817, beautifully finished nickel full plate movement with screw-down raised gold jewel settings (GJS), a gold star regulator, a diamond endcap on the balance bridge and an elaborate concentric circle damascene pattern, double sunk (DS) porcelain enamel dial with bold fancy Arabic numbers, red Arabic 5 minute markers and a black-marked subsidiary seconds register has a few short scratches near the center post but no hairlines or notable damage, bold blue steel spade & whip style hands.
Re-cased into an impressive yellow gold filled (YGF) fully engraved hunting case (HC) with large art nouveau floral & geometric designs on both sides, a blank monogram space on one side and a mountain lake scene engraved on the reverse, crimped pattern engraving on the steeply sloped bezels, multiple patterns of coin edge engraving on the frame, glass crystal and a large heavy bow, case is similar to a drum style with the high walls of the bezels but the frame does flare outward past the profile of the covers, case is showing moderate wear with some light smoothing to engraving on the bezels, some notable lines of brass on the bezels & bow, a bit of discoloration on the case surfaces where the gold is worn but not yet brass and a notable patch of light scuffing on the dust cover, measures approx. 54mm in diameter x 76mm in length x 17mm thick, this watch was considered a railroad grade watch at the time of production.
A beauty of a high grade Waltham from the 1890s, perfect to carry everyday and show off or to place in your own top condition case to create an heirloom quality anchor in a collection, in excellent overall condition!
- Year Made: 1899-1900
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Company:
Waltham
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Movement Size:
0318S
- Jewels: 0721J
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Setting/Movement Type:
lever set
- Adjustments: 1-3 positions
- Model/Grade: Vanguard
- Serial #: 7021817
- Movement Finish: nickel
- Movement Details: hunting case movement (HCM), diamond endstone, gold jewel settings (GJS), screw-down jewel settings, raised jewel settings, gold star regulator
- Dial Material: porcelain enamel
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Dial Details:
double sunk (DS)
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Hand Style:
spade & whip
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Case Style:
HC
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Case Material:
Gold Filled - Yellow
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Case Details:
re-cased
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Case Width/Diameter:
54mm (2.13 inches)
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Case Length, bow included:
76mm (2.99 inches)
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Case Thickness:
17mm (0.67 inches)
- Crystal Material: glass
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Condition:
Excellent
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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 November 23rd, 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.
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.