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APW - Waltham, U.S. Presidential presentation American Watch Co grade, 19J, Model 1862, 20S, heavy 18K gold original P.B. HC with black enameled nautical lifesaving scene to front, rear with black, blue, and red enameled U.S. Presidential Seal with "E Pluribus Unum" banner above a bald eagle with patriotic shield on its chest, and holding an olive branch in one talon and a group of arrows in its other talon, interior of case front is engraved "The President of the United States to Capt. Hans Dahlberg for the rescue of the Crew of the Am. Bark Toscana. 1867," gold cuvette, white enamel SS dial, KWKS (a key is included as pictured), lever escapement with capped escape wheel, gilt mvt, s#150077. Comes as pictured with a 10-inch 18K gold (tested) chain with replacement 9K gold (marked clasp), replacement gold-filled spring-ring, and attached 18K gold (tested) key with foliate detail; and comes also with a three-page Finnish newspaper article from 1972 showing images of the watch, its original owner, and his grandson Armas Dahlberg who was the owner of the watch at that time. Gross weight of assembled watch 95.4 dwt (148.5 g). Gross weight of 18K gold chain plus 9K gold clasp, gold-filled spring-ring, and 18K gold and steel key 29.0 dwt (45.1 g). An attractive early example of a top grade Waltham Presidential presentation watch, this piece was presented during the term of U.S. President Andrew Johnson. Please see our final photo with the lot for a small entry in the April 1st, 1867 issue of "The Charleston Daily News" of Charleston, South Carolina which notes that the Bark Toscano (sic) was reported to have been abandoned at sea and that the ship "was 660 tons register, and built at Bath, ME in 1865." In all, a terrific piece of maritime and Waltham Watch Co. history.
CONDITION: Mvt: Running, excellent-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, good gilt tone, plates with some bits of mild haze in areas and few scattered small spots, two short scratches to inner edge of main plate near center, few micro-fine scratches elsewhere; dial with hl from 10 to center, mild light surface mark inside 4; excellent hands; case with evident past repair to front lid near hinge area with solder excess internally and with some evident repaired fine surface splits of planchet seam and adjacent area apparent, case shows light to medium wear, cuvette with numerous fine to micro-fine scratches from past key slips, upper-left rear shoulder with small ding, few mild small nicks elsewhere, front and rear images with good engraving detail, reduced engine turning detail with full loss throughout rear shoulder and throughout majority of front shoulder, front with enamel nearly fully intact to scene though with ample enamel losses to surrounding circular borders, rear enamel with enamel largely intact to Presidential Seal though with greater losses to surrounding circular borders, case front lift spring needs a bit of assistance to open lid and is not contacting lid to its fully opened position allowing lid to tip back a small bit toward closed with gravity; tight bow, push is a replacement of somewhat differing tone relative to case and of differing appearance than the original would have been; good glass crystal. Chain and key show medium to ample wear, replacement gold-filled spring-ring with portions of wear to brass.
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