Description

Folks we have a truly exceptional offering for your consideration in this Illinois Pocket Watch 23 Jewel Bunn Special Type III with a 60 Hour Motor Barrel circa 1929. This highest of grade Illinois Pocket Watch is lever set and stem wound and is a size 16 measuring 2 inches in diameter the most popular of sizes. The Illinois Watch Company has developed a very strong collector market for their high grade pocket watches both innovative and beautiful timepieces. Production of this Bunn Special Type III was limited to 118,000 from 1924 through 1940 keeping the collector market strong for this fine Bunn Special. The Illinois Watch Company offered the finest in Railroad Grade Pocket Watches and we have an excellent example with this desired configuration: stunning Illinois Type III 23 Jewel Movement, pristine Double Sunk Dial and housed in this Keystone Watch Case Company 10K Gold Fill Case. This fine timepiece is highlighted with the beautifully heat treated blued Steel Spade Whip style hands. I so hope the many pictures and extreme magnification help in the description this truly fine Illinois 23 Jewel Bunn Special Pocket Watch.

This Illinois 23 Jewel Bunn Special Type III Model 14 Movement is in pristine condition without reckless jewelers tool marks or corrosion. The Nickel Silver ¾ Plate Movement has the beautiful and ornate damasking pattern referred as a the “sunburst” design with the lettering highlighted in the desired red hue unique to Illinois. Then we have the 23 Ruby Jewels, 60 Hour Motor Barrel, adjusted to 6 positions with a Double Roller. This fine movement is also adjusted to heat and cold with a high grade micro regulator, gold balance weights, flush and raised Gold Cup screw settings, gold center wheel and train and is lever set and stem wound with a steel escapement. This Illinois Bunn Special has just been serviced and is an excellent timekeeper as designed.

This fine Illinois Bunn Special is housed in this stunning J. Boss Keystone Case Company 10 K Gold Fill Model 28 Case. The J. Boss Railroad Cases were Keystone’s highest grade cases offered. In 1925 Illinois first started offering pocket watches as factory cased and timed and this all original Bunn is an excellent example. The Illinois Watch Co. was also still selling movements to the jewelers or jobbers as they were referred to back in the day and they were still fitting cases and movements to meet customers needs and budget. This fine J Boss Keystone Case is in excellent condition without dings or dents one might expect to find. This is the classic Railroad Case with what is referred to as a “coin edge” and as well as being decorative this allows for a better grip when taking off the front bezel off to pull the lever to set the time. This Illinois Bunn Special shows beautifully and is sure to be appreciated for generations to come.

This Illinois Bunn Special is faced with a pristine Double Sunk Porcelain Dial. This is a rare Illinois dial in the Boxcar style railroad font. This Double Sunk Dial has the recessed center chapter with the Illinois logo in the block font. Then we have the raised outer chapter for the “Boxcar” stylized Arabic font numerals. Then we have a recessed sub chapter for the second hand. These fine dials were made using 3 copper plates soldered together then baked with many layers of Silica giving the dial that deep rich porcelain finish. The classic Illinois Railroad Dial both beautiful and the height of functionality. This fine dial is highlighted with the original beautiful heat-treated blued Steel Spade Whip Railroad Hands. The classic Illinois Railroad Pocket Watch holds both a piece of American and Horologic History.

This is an excellent example of the ingenuity that made the late 19th early 20th Century American Pocket Watch a worldwide standard for accuracy and beauty in timekeeping.

This Illinois Bunn Special Pocket Watch has been Cleaned, Oiled and Adjusted for accuracy. This entails a complete disassembly and all parts cleaned and reassembled using the finest watch oil and gear grease.

This Illinois Pocket Watch is warrantied for one full year from date of purchase.