One of the iconic American pocket watch companies was American Watch Co., later known as Waltham for the city in which it was founded.

In 1860, as President Abraham Lincoln was elected, the country was in Civil War. Production ground to a halt. However, the company decided to downsize to the lowest possible level to keep the factory open. It worked: Upon his Gettysburg Address, President Lincoln became the proud owner of a Waltham Model 1857 "Wm. Ellery" pocket watch, the same model offer here today. President Lincoln's watch - made in January 1863 - resides in the collection of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian.

According to the company's handwritten ledger, this Waltham Model 1857 "Wm. Ellery" watch, the same model given to President Lincoln, was made in August 1862, only a few months before President Lincoln's watch (see a photo of the page below).

But our Waltham offered today is far from an "ordinary" collectable Civil War era Waltham. It is one owned by a Civil War participant with full provenance and is engraved with his regiment information.

The inside of the back is crudely inscribed "Wm. E. Jewett Co "K" Oct. 4th 18622, 87th Regt. OVI." And the cuvette is crudely inscribed "Jewett." Mr. Jewett, a young man at the time, had more pressing concerns than how he inscribed his watch.

William E. jewett is listed in the Civil War era roster of Ohio state troops as entering service with Company K of the Eighty-Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry on May 27th, 1862 at the age of 19 and serving for a term of 3 months before being mustered out with Company on October 3rd, 1862, which is notably a single day prior to the inscription within the watch case.

Here is a little more about it...

* Heavy silver hunting case with a shield type motif on the front

* Original porcelain dial

* Large 18 size, measuring 54mm in diameter

* Key wound movement with winding key

* Engine has a diamond end stone protecting the most import pivot

* All original parts

During the summer of August 1862, as this watch was being crafted in the workshop, the Civil War was reaching a pivotal moment—Union and Confederate forces clashed in the Second Battle of Bull Run (August 29–30). A crushing setback for the North, this defeat undercut morale in Washington and paved the way for Robert E. Lee’s Maryland Campaign. Just days earlier on August 9, Confederate troops had achieved another tactical victory at Cedar Mountain in Virginia, underscoring how high-stakes and unpredictable the Eastern Theater had become.

By mid-September, General Lee had carried his Army of Northern Virginia across the Potomac into Maryland. On September 17, the Confederates met Union forces at Antietam, resulting in the bloodiest single day in American history with nearly 23,000 casualties. The Union tactical success there gave President Lincoln the political opportunity to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, fundamentally shifting the war’s meaning and global perception.

By October 4, 1862—the exact day this watch was inscribed—the Battle of Galveston unfolded. In a naval operation, Union forces briefly secured Galveston, Texas, raising the U.S. flag over the city before Confederate forces ultimately recaptured it in early 1863. Meanwhile, in Kentucky, the Confederate Heartland Offensive (August 14–October 10) culminated in the Battle of Perryville on October 8, a fierce cavalry and infantry engagement that ended Lee’s ambitious campaign to wrest control of that critical border state.

Servicing:

One of our Master Watchmakers who specializes in antique pieces has disassembled it down to its last screw and serviced to make it ready for immediate enjoyment.

Kindly note that these were not highly jeweled watches, and after 150 years the movements generally have some wear from use. Even with an expertly done complete servicing, ours is running and keeping generally accurate time for one of these watches, but please do not expect precision timekeeping closer than a couple of minutes per day.

Photos of the inside available upon request. Accompanying the watch is a key.

Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. warranty on the movement and its function, a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity.

Imagine an artisan finishing the watch movement in August in the shadow of Bull Run; Mr. Jewett engraving the inscription the day Confederates and Union fleets clashed off Galveston. This is not just a timepiece—it’s a witness to war. When you hold this watch, you connect with a moment when the nation’s fate hung in the balance, and every hour mattered. This is a rare opportunity to own an exciting historical timepiece with full Civil War participant provenance.

A link to the archive.org page with information on Mr. Jewett can be found here.

Manufacturer: American Watch Co./Waltham
Country of origin: U.S.A.
Serial no.: 55,835
Date finished: August 1862
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Subsidiary Seconds
Designed for: Men
Case material: Silver
Case markings (inside): A.M. Watch Co., Waltham, Mass. The inside of the back is crudely inscribed "Wm. E. Jewett Co "K" Oct. 4th 18622, 87th Regt. OVI." And the cuvette is crudely inscribed "Jewett."
Case condition: Honest original condition with age appropriate wear. Dings on case sides and small ones on lid. Engraving still strong.
Dimensions: 54mm diameter (excluding the crown)
Dial: White enamel with Roman numerals, original, good condition with a couple small chips on the very edge and a short hairline near 12.
Hands: Original, blue steel, spades
Movement markings: Wm. Ellery, Waltham, Mass., 55,835
Crystal type: Mineral glass, excellent condition
Serviced: One of our Master Watchmakers who specializes in antique pieces has disassembled it down to its last screw and serviced to make it ready for immediate enjoyment. Kindly note that these were not highly jeweled watches, and after 150 years the movements generally have some wear from use. Even with an expertly done complete servicing, ours is running and keeping generally accurate time for one of these watches, but please do not expect precision timekeeping closer than a couple of minutes per day.
Warranty: 1-year C.O.T. international warranty. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.
Box/Papers: BOX - Watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; KEY - Winding/setting key
Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all of our watches. If you are in any way unsatisfied with the watch we will fully refund the purchase price anytime within 7 days after the watch has been received. Our goal is to exceed our client's expectations throughout the buying experience.

All watches are packaged carefully and mailed double boxed in specially constructed, reinforced shipping boxes designed for high value items. All watches are sent fully insured with signature required. Most of our domestic shipping is done through FedEx. At times we will also use USPS Express Mail, and we can accommodate most requests for your preferred carrier. International shipments are sent USPS International Express Mail or FedEx.

The purchase price will be the declared value of the merchandise on any required customs forms. The payment of all customs duties, tariffs, and taxes are the responsibility of the buyer.

Also note that water resistance of vintage watches can no longer be guaranteed and is not covered under the watch's warranty. We do not recommend getting a vintage watch wet, even one that was originally designed to be waterproof.

To get an idea of how this watch will look on the wrist, please use the Watch Sizing Guide

X