Magnificent gold pocket watch with gold nugget chain. Hunter cased sized 18, 15 jewel, lever set, adjusted, full plate. Case features a marvelous rose gold train engine with diamond lights, coming out of a tunnel on a diamond track. Yellow and green gold floral and leaf design beneath. Reverse of case has fancy rose gold monogram plate with initials “MP” (or PM). Face has roman numerals for hours and numbers to mark the minutes, with a second-hand inset. Face marked: "Hampden Watch Co." Works marked "Railway - Canton, Ohio" 605470. Case marked "ROY / Warranted / 14K / U.S. Assay / 87763”. Circa 1888-89.
Watch is attached to a gold nugget chain with 16 nuggets of varying sizes, along with button hole bar covered in small nuggets. The final and largest nugget features a gold shovel and pick with “NOME” marking. Button hole bar is 1 7/8" with back marked “S.H. / Nome / 14K”. We have not weighed the nugget chain, however the consignor states the weight is 2.75 ounces of nuggets.
Lot 181, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - January 20, 2017, Mesa, AZ.
Sold $17,700