Antique Hampden Lafayette Pocket Watch, 1881

Antique Hampden Lafayette pocket watch, 1881.

The watch has a 15 jewel stem-winding nickel movement which is working nicely. The movement is fully signed Hampden, Springfield, Massachusetts and the serial number, 194312, dates it back to 1881. The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover... there are a few short scratches where the back has been opened in the past.

The watch is larger than normal at 59mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is coin silver which is an alloy of 90% silver and 10% copper, as used for US coinage. It was made by Fahys, a New York based case maker. Joseph Fahys & Co was a high quality watch case maker with headquarters in New York. The company was founded in 1857 by Joseph Fahys, a French emigrant The case is in lovely condition, just one minor “ding” towards the edge of the hinged case back.

The watch glass is lovely and thick. It has little marks across it but because it gives the watch such character, we have decided to leave it.

The signed dial is in good condition, just a small chip to the very edge by number 9 but it is mostly hidden by the bezel when the front is closed.

Lever set blued steel hands (one replacement), a subsidiary seconds dial and an outer minute track.

The watch comes 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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