Hampden Watch & Chain (hopefully last post of the week, ha ha)

[xmelax38]

I am pretty sure this is Antique. I have a Hampden Watch & Some kind of chain (it says: Marathon on it).  I took it to a local Jewelry store and they were no help at all. Of course they probably would have answered more if I would have paid lots of $$$. I do know that the chain type piece is a gold filled piece.  The hampden watch says inside: 3428487 - I believe that is a serial number. The watch is a 15 Jewel watch.  The jeweler only told me it is not real valuable and there are millions out there. He said he hoped we didn't pay too much for it. I told him $18.00 for the set (it was in the estate auction). He said you did good, you did real good then.  Yet he would not tell me how much it would be worth.  I was thinking it might not be valuable to him, but it could be to me, even at a hundred dollars, my husband and I think that would be good, ha ha.

Here are photos (sorry about the quality of the photos):





Thank you all so much again! After my brain surgery, my concentration level has gone down quite a bit (and my comprehension level, etc...). It is a year recovery for the type I had and it could be up to 4 years or more before I see improvements. So for now, if I mess up or sound dumb, I apologize. I try to make light of my situation.

[mart]

Well the bottom pic is a watch fob but its hard to tell how it was used laying like that !!  Is it all one piece ??  Many went through a button hole or lapel and watch was on other end of chain which then went into a watch pocket !!  Can you take a close up of the watch face and one of the back ??  Btw we don`t criticize anyone here for messing up,,we have all done that !! We look at each new member as part of our family !!  Glad to have you join us !!

[xmelax38]

Yes, I will get a picture of it closer. It might be later or tomorrow before I can get a good picture of it. I will also take a better picture of the other one. It seems to be one piece but it has loops where it is put together. You really can't take it apart, unless you take the loops apart with pliers of some sort. Plus, thanks for that! I do appreciate the welcome.

[Rauville]

Your watch appears to be a Hampden Ladies Convertible watch, manufactured in 1915. I would doubt if there are "millions" of them out there.
The chain and fob was designed for a ladies watch when carried in a skirt watch pocket. The clip would fasten on the waistband with the fob suspended, and the watch at the end of the chain in a pocket sewn inside the waistband.
(I'm pretty new here myself, but these folks do an excellent job at making you feel at home.)

[xmelax38]

Thank you very much for the information. I think the man at the jewelry store probably hurried me out because I was wearing my comfy clothes and did not dress up to go in there (at the Jewelry Store), I had a migraine and didn't feel like fixing myself up to go in there.  He probably thought I was some scum or something, so I was treated kind of stand offish. Luckily no one judges in the forums.

[mart]

LOL !!  I know the feeling !!  I live on a farm with two large gardens, 8 horses, and usually don`t get time to shower and change again before running to town !! I am usually in work clothes, with sand on old shoes, may or not have time to recomb hair and shirt may have a few tomato stains about now !!  Good thing is here,, its a smallish town and many others look as bad as I do when working outside !! 100 degree heat doesn`t help any either !!

[jondar]

Has the fob (little doo-dad at the end of the chain) been engraved?  Often on the bottom they were faced with a stone, maybe carnelian, blood stone or others, and then engraved, mostly with the owners initals or crest.  If so it could be a hint to the original owner.  Also does the watch run and keep time?

[xmelax38]

I wasn't able to get a better picture today. I am working on getting someone to take a better pic for me. Anyway, no it doesn't have any stones or engraving on it. Hopefully by tomorrow I can get a better picture.

[mart]

Your watch appears to be a Hampden Ladies Convertible watch, manufactured in 1915. I would doubt if there are "millions" of them out there.
The chain and fob was designed for a ladies watch when carried in a skirt watch pocket. The clip would fasten on the waistband with the fob suspended, and the watch at the end of the chain in a pocket sewn inside the waistband.
(I'm pretty new here myself, but these folks do an excellent job at making you feel at home.)

Shows you where my mind is,, never thought about it being a ladies watch !!  That darn brain fog again !!!

[xmelax38]

Any idea (w/o me putting a picture on here, how much it might be worth (both pieces)? I forgot to add, it does not work. So keeping in mind it is not in working condition. (or rather, I don't know how to work it...it might work). If I were going to sell it (which I might or might not...not sure). How much I might be able to put a price on it.

Thanks so much!

[mart]

Have you tried winding the watch to see if it works ??

[xmelax38]

It doesn't work. I just tried winding it and waited awhile for it to change time and it did not.
Also, I was going to change the settings on our camera to see if it made a difference in the photos, but the stupid thing doesn't work anymore with any new batteries. Hoping to get a new camera asap or borrow one from my mother or someone. Ha ha, just my luck.

[mart]

Could be that the spring is broken from being wound too much !!
I think for both pieces you should be able to get $60. to $80. for them.  I have seen some common watches go for parts that surprised me at the sale price !!

[xmelax38]

Yes, that could be. It had to be someone else, I didn't wind it too tight (too afraid, ha ha). I don't think this picture is any better. I took it with my husband's work cell phone, because my step-daughter didn't come over today.