This fine David Maguin is a special pocket watch with direct ties to the War of 1812. The war was a defining moment for the fledgling United States as it took on Great Britain, the reigning superpower of the period, in the U.S.’s first conflict as a sovereign nation. This pocket watch once belonged to a veteran of the War of 1812, Captain Benjamin Franklin Wood. Capt. Wood raised a company of fighting men, 121 soldiers strong, and led his men until the war’s end in 1815.

Thirty-five years after the war, Capt. Wood acquired this beautiful Swiss-made timepiece. This gorgeous timepiece would be at home in a museum or in the hands of a serious collector of fine vintage timepieces with historical ties. The watch itself is believed to have been crafted during the era of Switzerland’s cottage watchmaker industry.

This watch features a LeCoultre Ebauche style of bar movement and 15 jewels, mostly rubies indicating the fine materials and craftsmanship used to create this fabulous timepiece. The 18K gold case features exquisite etchings with beautiful floral patterns and precision crosshatching on the case back. The 18K gold dial features Roman numerals highlighted with 18K gold Brequet style hands.

If you’re looking for a pocket watch with a rich history and tied to a significant event in the United States history, this is the watch for you. This timepiece is in excellent condition and comes with its original case (the numbers match), a spare dial, and provenance.