High Value Movement and Watch

[jdrichard]

I've got high grade Hampden in Defiance train case, this one I know is a re-case, (two different case screws), many high grades may have had original karat case scrapped, sad but true, your Illinois doesn't look like recase. Sometimes folks bought a good movement, but couldn't afford a karat gold case, other times a lesser value movements can be found in solid gold cases. My 21J is a "Miller Watch Co Canton",  movement marked and "Miller" dial, I have been told it's maybe a 'one off' made for my Great Grandpa. I'm clueless about case metal, but it's definitely newer than mvt. I thought chrome wasn't around until 30's.

This is a very nice piece. Chrome was used in watch cases starting mid-1920ies. It was invented in 1914. So if the case back is magnetic, it is nickel, if you put a drop of bleach on it and it turns black, it is silver, else it is base metal and Chrome. Chrome case with a very high end movement in it should still be valuable.

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[jdrichard]

This miller case looked exactly like my Hamilton, which based on my tests is a Chrome case even though it has a 1910 movement in it. Doesn't seem to make sense unless it was re-cased.

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