Illinois 12S 17J adj grade 405 pocket watch #4883337, attractive nickel bridge movement with 2 finger bridge plates and a fancy center plate layout, screw-down jewel settings and a tight bar-style damascene pattern, champagne-toned metal dial with a smooth polish outer ring under the fancy black Arabic-style numbers, center of dial has been elaborately engraved with an oval and cross design, subsidiary seconds register with black markers, dial has a few light scuffs and some patina at the edge but no heavy scratches or damage, blue steel open diamond-style hands, beautiful 8-sided yellow gold filled (YGF) friction fit case with a smooth polish back around the blank fancy monogram shield, deeply floral engraved bezels, chevron engraved designs on the frame, a fancy bow with floral engravings and a glass crystal, case is showing normal even wear overall however there is a thin line of brass starting to show on the back cover edge along with a small spot of discoloration at the edge at 3 o'clock along with some moderate wear to the engraving and color on the bow, measures approx. 43mm wide x 55mm in length x 10mm thick (crystal included). A very attractive, high quality vintage Illinois dress watch from the 1920s in excellent condition!
- Year Made: 1927-1928
- Company: Illinois
-
Movement Size:
0612S
- Jewels: 1117J
- Setting/Movement Type:
pendant set
- Adjustments: 1-3 positions
- Model/Grade: 405
- Serial #: 4883337
- Movement Finish: nickel
- Movement Details: bridge layout
- Dial Material: metal
- Dial Color: champagne
- Hand Style:
diamond - open
- Case Style:
friction fit
-
Case Material:
Gold Filled - Yellow
- Case Details: 8-sided
-
Case Width/Diameter:
43mm (1.69 inches)
-
Case Length, bow included: 55mm (2.17 inches)
-
Case Thickness: 10mm (0.39 inches)
- Crystal Material: glass
- Condition:
Excellent
-
Gender:
Unisex
The Illinois Watch Company was founded in Springfield, Illinois and began production of its earliest branded models in 1872, although the company had been producing small runs of watches with various other markings as early as 1869. In 1927, the Hamilton Watch Company purchased Illinois and manufactured watches in the Springfield factory up until 1932. Afterwards, Hamilton continued to produce watches with Illinois Watch Company markings from their main factory in Lancaster, Pennsylvania until 1939.
As an additional resource, we've posted a
Serial Number Production List which includes information for Illinois serial numbers and dates of manufacture.
The NAWCC also has a
comprehensive article about the company.
You may browse all of our men's pocket watches from this manufacturer at our
Vintage Men's Illinois 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.
We do have a professional watchmaker that does all of our cleaning and repair work for us. To have your watch serviced before shipping, simply add this
Cleaning/Service Agreement to your shopping basket. The cleaning and timing service is $95, and depending on the time of the year, has a turnaround time of 1 to 3 weeks.
Please note that we provide this service in addition to the listed purchase price of our watches. If you do purchase this option and later decide to return the watch, this fee is non-refundable.
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 exchange option to your
shopping cart but later change your mind on the crystal selection type, you'll need to remove the watch from the cart in order to make a new crystal selection. Once that is done, you can return to this page and add that new combination to the cart. We apologize for the limitations to our system that prevent you making that change from the shopping cart directly.
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.
