Exquisite 1900 Waltham 15K Gold Maximus 19J Trench Watch - Antique Timepiece for Collectors

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$2,351.00

• Details
  1918 Waltham Riverside Maximus – 0 Size – 19 Jewels – Solid 15K Dennison Gold Case – First Production Run
  
  Welcome to my shop. Before you read further, I suggest you settle in with your favorite drink—because this isn’t just a watch, it’s a story that deserves to be savored.
  
  This is not merely a timepiece. This is the Waltham Riverside Maximus, the crown jewel of Waltham’s 0-size production, a 19-jewel marvel reserved for those who demanded only the very best in their era. Encased in a solid 15K gold Dennison case, hallmarked Birmingham, 1918, it is both a work of horological artistry and a survivor of history.
  
  What sets this example apart is its origin: it is the 294th movement from the very first production run of the Riverside Maximus 0-size—one of only 9,684 ever produced. To hold it is to hold the earliest heartbeat of a masterpiece line, a watch that would have been worn by someone of means and taste in the uncertain, war-shadowed world of 1918.
  
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  ✦ Highlights
  • Movement: Waltham Riverside Maximus, 0 Size, 19 Jewels, Nickel Finish
  
  • Production: First run (294th of 9,684 total)
  
  • Serial Number: 10053295 (within first 500 made)
  
  • Year: 1900 movement, cased in 1918 Dennison 15K gold
  
  • Case: Solid 15K yellow gold, Birmingham hallmark, ALD (Dennison)
  
  • Dial: Restored military “shadow box” dial, safe luminous material
  
  • Crystal: NOS (new old stock)
  
  • Hands: NOS, luminous restored
  
  • Band: 14mm custom black reptile strap, open-ended for fixed lugs
  
  • Service: Full overhaul, August 2025
  
  • Condition: Exceptional—tight hinge, no gold wear-through, crisp dial
  
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  ✦ A Piece of Horological History
  
  First introduced in 1896, the Riverside Maximus represented the pinnacle of Waltham’s production watches, second only to the ultra-rare Premier Maximus. It was a movement designed to rival Swiss precision: raised gold jewel settings, a gold gear train, diamond cap jewels, a Breguet hairspring, and a micrometric regulator.
  
  This particular watch is made all the more exceptional by its Dennison solid 15K gold case—a uniquely British specification seldom seen today, and one that speaks to its export and international desirability. The Birmingham hallmark confirms its 1918 casing, marking it as a piece that straddles both sides of the Great War.
  
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  ✦ The Trench Watch Legacy
  
  While elegant enough for evening dress, this Maximus carries the unmistakable marks of the WWI trench watch era:
  
  • Fixed lugs for a sturdy military strap
  
  • Bold luminous dial and hands for legibility in low light
  
  • A hinged case built for everyday use in a century long past
  
  To find such a watch not only intact but in exceptional condition—tight hinges, strong gold, crisp enamel—is a rarity collectors seldom encounter.
  
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  ✦ Collector Significance
  
  • Only 9,684 made, with this example from the first run
  
  • Early serial number: 294th produced
  
  • Rare 15K Dennison solid gold case with Birmingham hallmark
  
  • Riverside Maximus + Dennison gold = an extraordinarily scarce pairing
  
  • Historical crossover: an American masterpiece in a British-made case
  
  For a collector, this is not simply a watch to wear—it is a milestone in Waltham’s legacy and a jewel of horological evolution.
  
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  ✦ What’s Included
  
  • The watch, fully serviced and ready to wear
  
  • Careful, secure packaging (“porcelain doll” level protection)
  
  • Fully insured shipping
  
  • My ongoing support—I build long-term collector relationships, not one-time sales
  
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  This is more than a watch.
  
  It is a survivor of two World Wars, the Great Depression, and more than a century of change. It has witnessed history, endured it, and still beats with life today.
  
  For the serious collector, this Riverside Maximus offers something very few timepieces can: the chance to own a first-run example of Waltham’s finest 0-size movement, preserved in solid gold.
  
  Price reflects its rarity, condition, and the historical weight it carries.
• Shipping & Policies

  Shipping from United States

  Processing time

  1-5 business days

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  Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.

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  Returns & Exchanges

  I gladly accept returns, exchanges, and cancellations

  Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery

  Ship items back to me within: 30 days of delivery

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Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.

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