John C. Dueber went into business making watch cases in 1864 during the final stage of the United States Civil War. Then in 1886 Dueber’s company purchased the Hampden Watch Company and by 1899 the company had moved to Canton, Ohio. The Dueber-Hampden Watch Company made horological history not once, but twice. First, in 1890 the company produced the first size 16 watch, and then in 1891 Dueber-Hampden was the first company to offer a 23 jewel pocket watch in America.

This watch, the Dueber-Hampden Grade The Dueber Watch named after the company’s founder, was one of the company’s top-of-the-line timepieces. It’s a gorgeous railroad grade size 18 pocket watch manufactured in 1914. The year it was produced is also noteworthy for being the year the worst conflict the world had ever seen up to that point began, once called the Great War, and today is also known as World War I.

When you hold this watch in your hand you can feel the weight of history as the world descended into the fires of the 20th century, a century during which humanity was reshaped in never before seen ways, a century that marked the beginning of a new era, a new epoch in human history.

This watch is a stunning timepiece perfect for displaying in your collection, office, home mantlepiece, or to use as a daily wear timepiece. Its bright white Montgomery safety dial shows beautifully, and this railroad grade movement is housed in a high-grade Dueber Primus case with yellow gold fill.