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Help on actual maker of a Pocket Watch?? Dürrstein or Wittnauer?

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7.4K views 8 replies 4 participants last post by  huntsman53  
#1 ·
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Hey Forum Folks,

I recently purchased a 14k Rose Pink Gold Pocket Watch in Hunter Case which is in nearmint condition & running perfectly.It is old but how old, I am not sure (possibly early 1900's or late 1800's)! I am having difficulty determining who actually made the Pocket Watch. It is signed both on the inside of the case and on the movement with "MONOPOL" and a Star with a "D" inside (the "D" is inside the Star). Numerous (and I mean numerous) Web searches have turned up conflicting information on these Pocket Watches! The information leads one to believethat it could be a Monopol made by Dürrstein, while others show that it was made by Wittnauer but imported for the German Market by Dürrstein. I am leaning towards the latter! Does anyone here know more information on the Monopol Pocket Watches with the Star with a "D" stamped inside? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile! I have been real busy with my' business and looking for nice watches and pocket watches. I must say that you great folks got me started on a Watch binge of which, there seems to be no cure! LOL!!!! Isold my' 18S Elgin 23 Jewel Veritas in the Dueber Coin Silver case,16S Hamilton 992E Elinvar in 10k GF case, 10S old Elgin in 14k GF case and an Invicta Chronometer that I took in on trade but still own an A. Lange & Sohne 18k Rose Pink Gold Pocket Watch in Hunter Case with a 1A or 1B Movement (not sure which yet but am sending to A. Lange & Sohne for Service and a COA) which was made in 1894 and stillin mint condition, 4 Tag Heuer Watches (a 2000 Professional,a 1500 Professional Diver, a Aquaracer Automatic Chronometer and a Link Calibre 6 (sorry but they are stored away and I don't have the Model numbers wrote down anywhere), a nice low-end Seiko stainless steel Quartz, a MTM "Special Ops" Thunderhawk in stainless steel and a Seiko 7S26 Scuba Diver. To make matters worse, a contact on mine for nice watches and pocket watches, just hooked me up with a Wholesaler which has some really nice stuff!



Frank
 
#4 ·
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If the pics are too hard to view, please let me know and I will edit the post and reload them from top to bottom!

I wanted to add the following information as well:

As you can see from the pics, the Hands are Gold or Gold Gilded.

On the case housing where the front and back covers seat, there are Hallmark stamps (probably Assayer's Stamps) which appear to be a jumping Deer Buck or in German or German Swiss, a Hirsch.

On the inside of the front (Dial) cover, the same Hallmark which is apparently the Assayer's stamp,then 0,585 in a dotted oval, then an unidentifiable Hallmark. Center left is a Crown in a circle, then center right is the Star with a "D" inside with MONOPOL stamped below the Star. At the center bottom,the Number 87 is stamped into the case.

The inside of the outer cover has the same identical stampings but at the center bottom, the Number 228187 is stamped into the case.

On the inside of the inner back (movement) cover, Metal is stamped towards the center bottom and below that the Number 228187, then what may be the initials "JD" stamped below and right of the Number. Added: While the case and the front and back covers are 14k Gold, the inner back (movement) cover is a base metal which appears to be a copper and brass composite.

No other stampings, Hallmarks or identifiers are visible.



Frank
 
#5 ·
#6 ·
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lovles2274 wrote:
All I can come up with is that the case is 14k gold (that's what the 585 stamp stands for. But, look at this link. The movement looks just like yours.

http://www.chrono24.com/en/all/pocket-watch-monopol-duerrstein-gold-savonette-taschenuhr--id1353000.htm?picnum=3&tab=details
Yep! I was already aware of this For Sale Ad as well as quite a few Auctions where similar or nearly identical Pocket Watches hadsold. It seems that in Europe and especially so in Germany, they have much better information (probably in the form of Books) on these nice Pocket Watches. It would be nice to have the information printed in the 2012 Complete Guide to Watches! Heck, in Europe they can not only find out who made the Pocket Watch butalso obtain a reasonable year ofproduction and when purchased from their references, while we can barely squeeze out who made it! What gives? I know that everyone wants information on pocket watches made by Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Sohne, Vacheron & Constantin, etc., etc.but what about Monopol!!?? If I am correct in the information that I have found, that it was actually made by Wittnauer under the Monopol name and imported by Dürrstein for the German Market, then sure, it was (is) considered an "Affordable" pocket watch but still a quality one, no less. When an affordable pocket watch is nearly or possibly more thana hundred years old, has some of the same good looks ofand is stillrunning just as perfect as a new Patek Philippe, then it is no less important to many Pocket Watch Collectors, right??!!



Frank
 
#8 ·
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The star is for Durrstien.

Scroll down to the star, next to it you will see Durrstein, click on that. Then scroll down to see your Hallmark.

For some reason it's not letting me paste the direct link.

http://www.mikrolisk.de/show.php/280/letter_D



The "crown" hallmark, or whatever it is, across from the star, possibly is the assayers.

And if I can remember, I think the 87 is the town or county it was assayed.

I'll see if I can find that info.
 
#9 ·
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tinknocker,

Thanks for the link! Haven't been feeling too well today and while laying down, I realized that I was only slightly wrong in my' belief about the Pocket Watch. Instead of being made by Wittnauer under the Monopol name and imported by Dürrstein for the German Market, I now believe that the Pocket Watch was made by Wittnauer under the Monopol name under contract for Dürrstein who then sold them on the German Market. Somewhat similar but explains having both the Monopol name and the Star with the "D" in the center (for Dürrstein) on the Pocket Watch. How this effects the value of these pocket watches is unknown to me butit probably has some effect! Dürrstein owned quite a few Watch making factories and who nows, the company may have owned or had interest in a portion of Wittnauer's operations. If anyone has any other information that would be helpful, it would be greatly appreciated!

Does anyone have a clue as to the true value of my' Monopol/Dürrstein Pocket Watch? I have seen some past and a few recent Auction and sales results of similar or nearly identical pocket watches and the prices ranged from over $1,900 to$2,500 but if memory serves me correctly, one sold for well over $2,500. Most of these sold during times when Gold prices were a fraction of what they are now, so the higher Gold prices should significantly effect their' values.



Thanks...Frank