Description:

American Academy, Denver 12S 17J J.N. Harlow #37 project pocket watch, there are no additional maker's marks or serial numbers under the dial, handsome nickel split plate movement with a brushed finish and bold red ruby jewels, single sunk (SS) champagne-toned metal dial with a brushed finish, fancy art-deco style raised gold Arabic numbers, a black imitation double sunk line and a black-marked subsidiary seconds register is marked "American Academy Denver", fancy gold steel whip style hands, handsome yellow gold filled (YGF) smooth polish salesman's display case with friction fit covers, multi-stepped bezels supporting glass crystals, a short heavy pendant with a recessed crown and a fancy French-style bow, case is showing only light wear with a little bit of brass starting to show on the crown & bow along with a small flake on the edge of the back crystal, measures approx. 44mm in diameter x 54mm in length x 11mm thick (crystals included).

This watch also comes with a black leatherette box with a black velvet fitted interior and off-white colored satin finish. Hagans was a prominent figure in Colorado horology history, having opened the American Academy, School of Horology in Denver and later the Hagens Clock Manor Museum, along with having published numerous works on watchmaking. Eventually, these organizations were rolled into the current AWCI (American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute) with one of the museums the organization offers being dedicated to Mr. Hagans. With this information in mind, we believe that this watch was a project watch that may have demonstrated completion of the advanced course at the Academy, in this case by the student J.N. Harlow.

A wonderful piece of watchmaking history from the 1940's Denver area in excellent+ overall condition!

If you find this watch interesting, please also see our item HP1203 which is a similar project watch with Orville Hagans markings.

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