Men’s 1914 Dueber-Hampden Special Railway Pocket Watch

First there was Don. J. Mozart who, in the Civil War era, produced his horologically significant three-wheel watch. Then there was the prolific New York Watch Company and finally, Hampden Watch Company of Canton, Ohio. By the late 19th century Hampden was competing quite effectively against the "Big Four": Elgin, Waltham, Illinois and Hamilton. Creators of the first 23 jewel pocket watch – designed specifically for railroad service – Hampden produced excellent timepieces that were not inexpensive. It might have been this attention to detail that was their undoing: The "Big Four" saw the success of the 23 jewel watch, borrowed the idea, and in 1925, put Hampden out of business. Dueber-Hampden Watch Company, known for their obsessive attention to detail, produced watches that were exciting, elegant, and extraordinarily well-crafted. Their exceptional timepieces are well-respected by collectors to this day. 

How could one resist the powerful elegance of such a man's watch! This remarkable 16 size, 23 ruby-jeweled “Special Railway" pocket watch by the venerable Dueber-Hampden Watch Company is, indeed, special. It exudes class the likes of which we haven't seen in 100 years. A gorgeous, PERFECT porcelain "Montgomery" dial is highlighted by oversized Arabic numerals, an outer minutes "track" and marked "Dueber Hampden" below the "12"; while long, elegantly blued hands gesture the time. Pardon me for digressing a moment on the dial, but I've never, in the many decades I've been a horologist, seen a factory-marked "Dueber-Hampden" Montgomery dial. It's such a remarkable piece.

The watch is housed in its original, equally magnificent white gold-filled case, as broad and beautiful as America itself.

Unscrew its back case, featuring rare factory "inner cuvette" or dust-cover, and you'll find another work of art: a completely cleaned, oiled and calibrated 23 ruby jeweled exceedingly uncommon "Special Railway" railroad-grade movement in solid nickel plate, engineered by the remarkable minds of Hampden. With its fancy regulator, compensated balance and solid gold screw-jewel settings, it struck fear in the Swiss watchmakers of the day – most of whom were still locked in a bucolic cottage industry by comparison. During the latter part of the 19th century, if one wanted a precision timepiece that could be easily repaired and regulated, one purchased American. This example illuminates why. Please take a moment to admire the sheer excellence of this gold-accented movement; take as long as you like, because chances are you'll never see a railroad pocket watch this crisp; this uncommon; this remarkable again.

If you're looking for a watch to carry and admire while being admired; or, you're searching for a gift to reflect the generosity of the giver, this may be for you. We're pleased to offer this treasure in a custom-fitted presentation box.