Howard · 21 jewels · 16s · late 1910s–1920s
Howard watches cost more than most railroad watches, so the Keystone-owned E. Howard Watch Co. designed the Series 11 to sell for less. It's a 16-size, 21-jewel, lever-set movement adjusted to temperature and five positions, based on a design from Keystone's cheaper New York Standard line, and the plates are engraved Railroad Chronometer. The plan worked. The NAWCC estimates well over 20,000 were made, which makes it the most common Howard railroad watch by a wide margin. It first shows up in Howard literature in 1919 and was still in a 1926 catalog, priced below the Series 10 in the same case. Every Series 11 left the factory with a single-sunk snap-on dial in Arabic or Montgomery numerals, and those dials don't fit other 16-size Howards. Most have plain plates, the last two runs got circular damaskeening, and the later runs often came in a case with a double-bar safety bow.
The grade
Keystone-Howard named its grades by Series number. The Series 11 is the lower-cost 21-jewel railroad grade, and the Series 10 is the costlier 21-jewel with the same five-position adjustment, the Series 5 the 19-jewel and the Series 0 the 23-jewel top grade. Confirm Railroad Chronometer, Series 11 and 21 Jewels on the movement, and look for the arrow-through-a-circle mark with a star that most runs carry.
Cases were switched often, so a Series 11 in a non-Howard case or with a double-sunk dial has probably been put together later. Dealers often date these from serial charts, and the NAWCC warns those can be off by five to ten years for Keystone-Howard.
Buying guide
We'd buy the 1919 Keystone Series 11 titled 21 jewels and running at $580 delivered, about $95 under the $675–950 most of the about 19 for sale ask delivered. It's the most common Howard railroad watch, so be choosy, and confirm Railroad Chronometer, Series 11 and 21 Jewels on the movement plus a single-sunk dial, since a double-sunk one is likely a later swap. Treat years in titles loosely, since the NAWCC says serial charts can be off five to ten years for Keystone-Howards, and skip the Japan asks at $1,275–1,303 and the Australian ones carrying $69.80 shipping unless the watch is special. eBay's cards here don't show seller feedback, so check it on the item page.
$367.85delivered
The lowest Series 11 here at $368 delivered, about $300 under the band, titled 21 jewels and railroad. The case metal isn't stated and it isn't titled running, so ask for movement and case-back photos before you buy.
Antique 16s Howard 21J Railroad Class A Mechanical Pocket Watch Series 11
$580.00est. delivered
Titled 1919, Keystone, 21 jewels and running, under the bottom of the band. Running is the seller's word, so budget for a service.
1919 E Howard/ Keystone Gd. Series 11 Sz16s 21 Jewel Running RR P. Watch
$809.50est. delivered
Titled triple signed, which means a Howard dial, movement and case together, at $810 delivered in the middle of the band. Ask for a photo inside the case back to see the Howard signature and the Keystone or Crescent stamp.
Triple Signed Howard Series 11 Railroad Pocket Watch C. 1913 / 21J, 16S
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$367.85delivered
$367.85 · free shipping
Buy It Now$367.85
Good buy
Titled Series 11, 21J, railroad. Case metal not stated, not titled running.
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Used$580.00est. delivered
$568.00 + $12.00 shipping
Buy It Now$568.00
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Good buy
Titled 1919, Keystone, running.
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Used$809.50est. delivered
$800.00 + $9.50 shipping
Buy It Now$800.00
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Good buy
Triple signed per the title. Serial dates run off on Howards, so treat c. 1913 loosely.
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Used$595.00delivered
$595.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$595.00
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Our take
14K gold filled in a Howard case. Not titled running.
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Used$798.36est. delivered
$785.00 + $13.36 shipping
Buy It Now$785.00
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Our take
Gold bow, swing-out case, adjusted 5 positions per the title.
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Used$809.10est. delivered
$794.95 + $14.15 shipping
Buy It Now$794.95
Our take
Titled Railroad Chronometer, no series named. Check the plate for Series 11.
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Used$837.23est. delivered
$767.43 + $69.80 shipping
Buy It Now$767.43
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
14K gold filled, titled 1921. $69.80 shipping from Australia.
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Used$1,302.99delivered
$1,302.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$1,302.99
Priced high
Titled rare and nothing more, about $350 over the band. Ships from Japan.
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