E. Howard Watch Co. Series 8 Hunting-Cased Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1910
This E. Howard Watch Co. Series 8 hunting-cased pocket watch, numbered 1066946 and dating to approximately 1910, is a special-order timepiece constructed with a case by Keystone.
The four-body case is crafted from 14K and 24K gold, with both the front and back covers heavily adorned with 24-carat gold nuggets; the front cover features a central five-armed gold star. The white enamel dial is marked with Breguet numerals, outer minute divisions with red Arabic markers at five-minute intervals, and a subsidiary seconds dial. It is paired with blued steel spade-style hands. The watch is accompanied by a custom nugget-link chain ending in a large gold nugget.
The movement is a 10-size nickel mechanism featuring fausses côtes decoration, 23 jewels, and a straight-line lever escapement. The piece is notably associated with the Alaskan Gold Rush and the personal history of a merchant named Mr. Schick.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Hunting-cased pocket watch
- Maker
- E. Howard Watch Co.
- Jewels
- 23
- Case Maker
- Keystone
- Adjustments
- Adjusted to 5 positions
- Dial Features
- Breguet numerals and red five-minute markers
- Movement Size
- 10 size
- Serial Number
- 1066946
- Place recorded
- United States
- Maker / attribution
- E. Howard Watch Co.
Design
- Case and Dial
- The timepiece is housed in a four-body hunting case produced by the Keystone watch case company. It is distinguished by the extensive application of 24-carat gold nuggets across both the front and back covers. A prominent feature is the five-armed gold star located at the center of the front cover. The watch utilizes a hinged cuvette to protect the internal movement. The white enamel dial displays Breguet-style numerals. The perimeter is marked by standard outer minute divisions, accented by red Arabic markers every five minutes. A subsidiary sunk seconds dial is positioned at the base of the dial. The time is indicated by blued steel spade hands.
- Visible features
- • Front and back case covers are encrusted with gold nuggets • Five-armed gold star centered on the front cover • Subsidiary sunk seconds dial • Nugget-link chain included with the watch
- Provenance and History
- According to the auction records, this watch was commissioned by a merchant named Mr. Schick, who operated laundry and steam bath facilities in Juneau and on the Chena River during the Alaskan Gold Rush. The case was reportedly fabricated using gold nuggets acquired through his business dealings. Following his relocation to Seattle, Mr. Schick maintained a long-term friendship with a local physician, Dr. Shadel. Upon his death, Mr. Schick bequeathed the watch and its nugget-link chain to Dr. Shadel. The watch remained in the Shadel family until its purchase in 1992 by the owner at the time of the auction, who returned the piece to Alaska.
- Movement and Technical Specifications
- The movement is a 10-size nickel construction finished with fausses côtes decoration. It is a 23-jewel mechanism employing a straight-line lever escapement. The balance system comprises a cut-bimetallic compensation balance equipped with 14K gold screws and a blued steel Breguet balance spring. The movement includes 14K gold cap jewel plates and a spring-loaded micrometric regulator. The mechanism is adjusted to five positions, including cold, heat, and isochronism.
Identification
- Reference
- Series 8
- Serial number
- 1066946
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Specific metallurgical composition of the individual nuggets is reported by the auction house but not independently verified
- Research required: Historical provenance account relies on anecdotal records provided in the auction description