This is definitely my most eye popping find to date and I still can’t believe it! I researched a new spot recently, and boy, did it pay off big. I was out with my Nox and stock coil running in Park-1, recovery 5, sensitivity 22 and this rang up 21-23 showing 2 bars deep. One scoop of dirt came out and there it was! My eyes got wide and I took a pic - it definitely looked like a pocket watch. But because I lifted it out bottom first the crown came off and got left in the hole (I went back the next day and got it). Looking at it in my hand without the crown suddenly it seemed liked more of a locket that maybe once contained a photo. I was definitely thrown off by the smaller size. There was no external markings to be seen indicating metal type. In fact this became my first legit solid gold item so I was by no means doing a happy dance I figured it was just gold filled, or something cheap dropped last week. I was optimistic it was old but I kept on detecting oblivious to the magnitude of what it was. It wasn’t until I got home and got it open that I discovered what I truly had found. I opened the back case and saw the 14k stamp the happy dances begun! This is an American Waltham Watch Co. model 1898, Riverside grade, size 6/0s, with 17 jewels, s/n 11519748. The total production of the Riverside grade was just over 12,000, and this one has an estimated production year of 1902. According to The Complete Guide to Watches No. 29 (I had to go to the Library) it has 17 ruby jewels, a raised gold setting and gold center wheel. All of the movement is in such rough shape, but I can confirm all the stamped lettering and serial number are in the correct places to confirm it’s type. It’s set in an American Watch Case Co. 14k gold case stamped 158336. The case features a hinged front lid, back lid and hinged Cuvette (dust cover) for a total of 3 hinges. They all have lips for opening them. The two exterior hinges were completely toast when I opened them, but to my surprise the dust cover protecting the movement still has a working hinge. The back has the fancy engraving “MOB.” The dial is mostly gone now but it was fairly plain and featureless. Two hands, an hour and minute rotated around black Arabic numbers and red 5 minute marks. There is no second hand or mini dial near the bottom. I wish I could find the family of it’s previous owner, but with only 3 presumed initials to go off I’m sure that’s a pipe dream. This find still hasn’t sunk in. I tried scouring the internet to locate similar finds, they seem to be extremely rare. Apparently only 5% of pocket watches were made with solid gold cases...that’s just, wow. I found this on public land and I’m just floored that it had been laying there for at least 100 years out in the open. Thanks for sharing in this find!
