Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
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Recent Watch Find by Joe D. After Cleaning.
Photo by Joe D.
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I've often said that a lot of the fun comes after the find.
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Sebastian Steve offered the following comments relative to pocket watch finds.
So far as Joes's pocket watch "Congratulations Joe!." __Like Things Attract__ and it should not be too long before you find another! The pattern looks quite old, maybe not quite Victorian. I remember finding my first gold watch... only the little ring on top for the chain was sticking out of the debris pile. I thought I was reaching for a gold man's wedding band, but when as I tugged and tugged, finally out came this heavy gold pocket watch circa 1850 !!! WoW!!! Like things attract? Not five minutes had passed since I reached for a beautiful English Sovereign. The size and weight of our $5 gold piece. These Sovereigns were very common in U.S. Commerce in and around the Civil War era. The Sovereign was a known and trusted coin the world over, and Britain had been minting them since the 1830's I believe. You were far more likely to find a Sovereign than a $5 U.S. On an amazing ratio of 20 to 1....Sovereigns to U.S. $5. Amazing, it really was. The Sovereign is a beautiful coin, loaded with intricate detail, not at all easily forfeited.
Now listen up Joe... I'm sure at this point, the last thing on your mind is selling it. But if and when that day comes, when gold hits $5,000, __and it will__ know this...these gold outer watch cases bring -Big Dollars- just in scrap. __Don't let anybody cheat you.__
I recall selling two of mine for a little folding money, and being handed $1400.00. Yes, that zero is in the correct place. When you get it open, with soaking with lots of running warm water, and plain ole dishwashing soap (lubricant) over and over, --do not rush it-- the hinge will gradually open for you. Don't break it...you will hate yourself.
Inside the lid, once you have cleaned it well, you should see the "jeweler"s hallmark." It will be a very little box, like 1/16th "x 1/16th with the karat weight. You should see a little "14" or even an "18" in this box if old enough. By law...somewhere on that case you will find the assayers mark! Almost all of the old Victorian jewelry was 18 Karat. And a heavy watch case will amaze you with the layers of gold! Also you may see little notations scratched in by jewelers, as was the custom in the old days, to signify repairs that they performed and when. Just initials and like the month digits and last 2 year digits. You can often get a good idea of the age of the watch from this.
Maybe there is more there? Remember...LIKE THINGS ATTRACT. I found a beautiful pair of a man's and woman's hand crafted matching pocket watches with elaborate etchings carved in by hand, oh how many hours of craftsmanship? A hundred hours for the pair? Easy. Both these from out the same steamer trunk. Sad..this loving couple most likely went down with the ship, as their pouch of gold was still nestled in with the watches. Hopes and Dreams... now dashed upon the proverbial rocks. Who is to know such things? Which ship to take, which to avoid? Is a calm sunny day always your safest time to travel? Words to Ponder...
God Help the Perishing Mariner Tonight
We Fear the Pall of Darkness
Shall be the Precursor of their Doom.
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Joe was indeed able to find all the identifying information.
By the way, where he found it, the ground was littered with broken glass and trash.
Here is the photo.
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Littered Ground Where Pocket Watch Was Found.
Photo by Joe d.
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By the way, the photo at the top of yesterday's post showed a lot of erosion at Jupiter. That was all renourishment sand that got washed into the surf. That, along with the east swells, is why we are getting much old stuff being uncovered on the beach.
The erosion is not getting down to the older sand in most areas, and the old stuff in front of the beach is being covered by old renourishment sand that was washed into the surf.
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| Source: nhc.noaa.gov |
Jerry is still on the north/northeast path, but there are two other systems out there that could develop and eventually affect us.
The surf is expected to decrease now for a few days. That could be an opportunity to detect out a little farther than has been possible lately.
I got in some detecting time the past two days and dug a lot of targets. I was interested in testing the Equinox, but tried not to stress my back. I was most happy with the fact that my back held up. I was also learning more about the Equinox, which I'll study more and report on at a later date.
I'll have to go back and research some of my pocket watch finds, which, for some reason, I never really looked at much. I guess I never opened them up.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
