Waltham 15J adj. Sapphire ladies' wrist watch #26996275, vintage mechanical manual-wind movement, distinctive champagne-toned metal dial with a brushed finish on the outer ring under the fancy black Arabic-style numbers, interior has slightly raised smooth polish geometric & floral designs and a subsidiary seconds register, dial has some light patina and a few small scratches, blue steel moon-style hands, handsome 14k white gold hinged cushion-shaped case with fancy geometric & floral designs engraved on the bezel, laurel engraving on the frame, wire lugs & white gold filled (WGF) crown, case is showing normal even wear overall however it does look like the watch case was expertly plated or possibly gilded with yellow gold at some point, similar to
vermeil, however the true white color of the case can be seen within the interior of the case where it is also marked for 14k content, measures approx. 26mm wide x 31mm lug to lug x 9mm thick (crystal included), 10mm interior lug width (band width), black nylon cord rope-style band with black-over-gold filled lug connectors and yellow gold filled (YGF) cord guards and bracelet-style expandable clasp. A unique, high quality solid gold wrist watch from the 1920s in excellent condition!
- Year Made: 1929-1930
- Company:
Waltham
- Jewels: 1315J
- Setting/Movement Type:
manual-wind
- Adjustments: 1-3 positions
- Model/Grade: Sapphire
- Serial #: 26996275
- Movement Finish: nickel
- Dial Material: metal
- Dial Color: champagne
- Hand Style:
moon - standard
- Case Style:
cushion-shaped
-
Case Material:
Solid Gold - White
- Case Details:
yellow gold gilt over white
-
Case Width, without crown:
26mm (1.02 inches)
-
Case Length, lug to lug:
31mm (1.22 inches)
-
Case Thickness:
9mm (0.35 inches)
-
Band Size:
6in. to 6.99in.
(measurement range includes watch length & band)
- Band Material: ribbon/cord strap
- Crystal Material: plastic
- Condition:
Excellent
-
Gender:
Ladies'
The Waltham watch company, and the earlier American Waltham Watch Co., which had a variety of locations over the many years it was in operation (including Waltham, Massachusetts), was in business from 1851-1957, and was one of the most prolific of the American watch companies.
As an additional resource, we've posted a
Serial Number Production List which includes information for Waltham serial numbers and dates of manufacture.
The NAWCC also has a
comprehensive article about the company; additional information may also be found on
Wikipedia.
You may browse all of our men's pocket watches from this manufacturer at our
Vintage Men's Waltham Pocket Watches category.
This watch is in good running condition, unless otherwise noted in the description. This means that on receipt, pending any item-specific running conditions noted in the description, you can expect the watch to be winding and setting properly and to run smoothly while keeping reasonable time. We consider "reasonable time" to meet these basic guidelines:
- Railroad Grade Watches will be keeping +/- 5 minutes per day
- Pocket and Wrist Watches with 15 or more jewels will be keeping +/- 10 minutes per day
- All key wind watches and watches with 14 or fewer jewels will be keeping +/- 15 minutes per day
The above guideline is the lowest standard in which we would ship out a watch, however in most cases, you will see much better timekeeping. Most of our watches have been in storage for many years, so if you plan on carrying/wearing them everyday, you should consider having them cleaned and oiled soon, and then once a year thereafter to keep them in top running condition. If the watches will be for occasional use or display, they should be cleaned and serviced every 3 to 5 years depending on use.
As of December 22nd, 2024, we are not offering a cleaning and service option through PM Time Service. While we do hope to offer this again in the future, we are unfortunately unable to meet customer requests for watch servicing at this time. Please note that, unless otherwise mentioned within the "Full Description" tab, this watch is being sold in good running condition and is ready to wear or carry on arrival.
This watch comes complete with an appropriate, intact plastic crystal; however, on request PM Time Service can replace the current crystal on this wrist watch for you. We offer new plastic crystals for most vintage wrist watches; you can select your desired choice from the dropdown menu below.
Please note that the average turnaround time for wrist watch crystal replacements will be two days from the placement of the order; however, we do not carry every model of crystal in stock and there may be a delay of up to seven business days as we order the correct item from our supplier.
We are happy to offer alternate band options for this watch. Please see the Band Options below to view the styles and additional charges for each option we can provide. The first option on the list will reflect the watch in the current configuration as shown in the photos. If you choose an upgraded option, we will send you a photo of the watch, on request, with the new band ahead of shipping so you can approve the upgraded finish.
Contact us with any further questions or for an estimate on any shipping delays.
Please note: if you add this watch with a crystal and/or band exchange option to your
shopping cart but later change your mind on the crystal and/or band selection type, you'll need to remove the watch from the cart in order to make a new selection. Once that is done, you can return to this page and add that new crystal and/or band combination to the cart. We apologize for the limitations to our system that prevent you from making that change within the shopping cart.
We provide a generous length to our new rope-style band upgrades that will measure around 8" in total wearable length, but we are able to shorten the length of the new band if desired; add a note to your order during checkout with the total length you require and we'll re-size the band for no additional charge.
We can also offer a quote for a custom new band in a different color of cord; please
contact us directly with your request.
For those wishing to make their own adjustments or replacements, the following guide is helpful:
How to Repair and Size Cord Watch Bands.
Unlike modern quartz watches, most vintage watches need daily winding in order to keep the watch functioning for timekeeping. Additionally, there are a number of different ways to set the time other than simply pulling the crown away from the watch body. We are happy to provide an overview of each of the different setting types on our
"How To Use" page, where we also provide information on proper winding techniques for each style and some suggestions for the proper long term care and storage of your watch.
For your gift giving convenience, please find a consolidated overview of the information on this item, with no reference to the price, on this
printer-optimized page.
