Many times one will find a pocket watch case that has two glass crystals on it. One over the dial and one over the movement. What were these for?
These types of cases were made for most all companies that manufactured pocket watches. Movements were shipped to different jewelers mounted in these cases. They were used to show the customer the different kinds of movements that were available. When the customer found the movement that he wanted, the jeweler would remove the movement from the glass back case and install the movement into a regular pocket watch case that the customer also picked out.
Glass back cases are NOT rare. Many companies such as Hamilton, Waltham, Illinois, South Bend and most others used these cases. Many of the case made were produced by the Star Watch Case Company. Many of the glass back cases also had the name of the watch company embossed on both the front and back frames of the watch case.
These case are nice to have, as you can display your favorite pocket watch in them so that you can always observe the operation of the movement. Most of these case have bezels that snap on and off. This makes it a little difficult to set the time. Some companies also made glass back cases where both the front and back bezel unscrew. These are really nice.
It should be noted that over the years, many people have taken regular cases, and by using a lathe, they open up the back of the case and install crystals in them.
In order to get an original glass back case, you have to know what to look for, as many of the parts have been switched and mismatched over the years.
These types of cases were made for most all companies that manufactured pocket watches. Movements were shipped to different jewelers mounted in these cases. They were used to show the customer the different kinds of movements that were available. When the customer found the movement that he wanted, the jeweler would remove the movement from the glass back case and install the movement into a regular pocket watch case that the customer also picked out.
Glass back cases are NOT rare. Many companies such as Hamilton, Waltham, Illinois, South Bend and most others used these cases. Many of the case made were produced by the Star Watch Case Company. Many of the glass back cases also had the name of the watch company embossed on both the front and back frames of the watch case.
These case are nice to have, as you can display your favorite pocket watch in them so that you can always observe the operation of the movement. Most of these case have bezels that snap on and off. This makes it a little difficult to set the time. Some companies also made glass back cases where both the front and back bezel unscrew. These are really nice.
It should be noted that over the years, many people have taken regular cases, and by using a lathe, they open up the back of the case and install crystals in them.
In order to get an original glass back case, you have to know what to look for, as many of the parts have been switched and mismatched over the years.
