Antique Silver Pocket Watch, Thomas Softly, Louth

An antique silver pocket watch by Thomas Softly of Louth with chain.

The watch has a key-wound movement which is working nicely. The movement is signed with the Softly name, together with the address 18 Corn Market, Louth. The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover… a past owner has scratched the name Albert Smith, London into this inner cover. A winding key is included (an antique key although not original to the watch).

The watch itself measures 52mm diameter excluding the stem and the loop. It is a nice heavy piece and the case is silver… there are hallmarks inside both of the case backs for London 1886. There is a maker’s mark of CN which looks similar to the Charles Nicolet mark, however he (Stauffer) was a watch manufacturer and importer, and not a case maker. This suggests that the mark is for a different, unlisted, silversmith as we are confident that the case and movement are original to each other. The case has a few little “dings” but overall is in a very acceptable condition for its age.

The acrylic lens is a later replacement and it is in good condition.

The white enamel dial is in very nice condition and the unusually large Roman numerals are a most attractive feature. Sturdy blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and an outer minute track.

The watch comes with a later plated single chain, 25.5cm long including the clasps.

The watch will be sent in a new presentation box.

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All of our watches are checked over before listing, and are also checked for accuracy which is usually within around +/- two to three minutes over 24 hours (unless otherwise stated), which is considered respectable for a vintage watch.

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