Illinois · 23 jewels · 16s · 1924–1940s
Illinois collectors sort the 60-hour Bunn Special by the words on its bridges. It's the Model 14, a motor-barrel movement with a mainspring that runs about 60 hours, and Illinois introduced the 23-jewel version in 1924 and the 21-jewel in 1925. Type I watches say Motor Barrel 60 on the barrel bridge, Type II add 60 Hour on the train bridge, and Type III carry only the 60 Hour mark. Records count about 850 Type I and 700 Type II movements against more than 11,000 Type III, so the first two are the rare ones. Illinois began advertising the 21-jewel 60-hour Bunn in 1926, and that year the first factory-cased ones went out in Wadsworth cases marked Bunn Special. Hamilton bought Illinois in 1928 and kept the design as grades 161 and 163, adding Elinvar in the early 1930s. Some Hamilton-era dials spell out 23 Jewel 60 Hour, and the one with 23 J. tucked between Illinois and Bunn Special is the Flying J.
The grade
The 60-hour Bunn Special came in 23 jewels from 1924 and 21 jewels from 1925, both adjusted to six positions, and this page covers both. Hamilton kept it as grade 163 (23 jewels) and 161 (21 jewels), then 163A and 161A with Elinvar. A 19-jewel Model 14 marked Bunn, without Special, also has the 60-hour barrel and is a lower grade. Confirm Bunn Special, the jewel count and the 60-hour markings on the movement.
Balances and bridges get swapped between Illinois movements, and the balance arms usually carry the movement's serial number scratched in by hand, so a mismatch means a part from another watch. Enamel dials pick up hairlines, and a refinished dial hurts a Bunn Special more than most.
Buying guide
The one we'd buy is the 1926 21-jewel titled fresh service in a 10K gold-filled case, at $560 delivered, under the band. There are about 80 for sale and most ask $600–1,700 delivered, a wide band because this page mixes 21 and 23 jewels, with the 23-jewel and Hamilton-era Elinvar watches mostly at the top. Read the type off the bridges in the movement photo, since Motor Barrel 60 alone makes a Type I, both marks a Type II and 60 Hour alone the common Type III, and check that the serial scratched on the balance arm matches the plate. Check the seller's feedback on the item page, since eBay's pocket watch search doesn't show it.
$426.17est. delivered
The lowest delivered 60-hour Bunn here at $426, titled 21 jewels, 6 adjustments, lever set and 10K gold filled. It isn't titled running, so budget for a service and ask for the bridges to see which type it is.
Vtg. Illinois Bunn Special 16s 21j 60hr 6 Adj 10k GF RR Lever Set Pocket Watch
$559.66est. delivered
Titled with a fresh service, 1926, 21 jewels and 10K gold filled, at $560 delivered, about $40 under the band. Ask what the service covered and whether it included a new mainspring.
1926 Illinois 21 Jewel 60 Hr Bunn Special 10k G/F Case-Fresh Service R&R PW
$559.66est. delivered
The fresh service makes it the one most likely to run well out of the box, and eBay lists it as refurbished. Wind it fully on arrival and check it's still going past two days.
1926 Illinois 21 Jewel 60 Hr Bunn Special 10k G/F Case-Fresh Service R&R PW
$695.00delivered
A 1926 Type II with a Montgomery dial in 10K gold filled at $695 delivered, near the bottom of the band. Records count only about 700 Type IIs, so make the seller show Motor Barrel 60 and 60 Hour on the bridges.
1926 21J 10K-GF 16S Illinois Bunn Special Type II Pocket Watch Montgomery Dial
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$426.17est. delivered
$420.00 + $6.17 shipping
Buy It Now$420.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
21 jewels, 6 adjustments, lever set, 10K gold filled. Not titled running.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Serviced$559.66est. delivered
$547.71 + $11.95 shipping
Buy It Now$547.71
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Good buy
1926 21-jewel in 10K gold filled, titled fresh service.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$695.00delivered
$695.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$695.00
Good buy
1926 Type II with a Montgomery dial, 10K gold filled.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$764.61est. delivered
$694.81 + $69.80 shipping
Buy It Now$694.81
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Our take
1927 21-jewel, 51mm case. $69.80 shipping from Australia.
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Used$804.99est. delivered
$799.00 + $5.99 shipping
Buy It Now$799.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
Hamilton-era 161A with Elinvar, in a 10K gold-filled Model 107 case.
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Used$852.49est. delivered
$844.50 + $7.99 shipping
Buy It Now$844.50
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Our take
Titled Type 1. The barrel bridge should read Motor Barrel 60 alone.
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Used$899.10delivered
$899.10 · free shipping
Buy It Now$899.10
Our take
Titled Type II. Look for both 60-hour marks on the bridges.
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Used$4,260.00est. delivered
$4,200.00 + $60.00 shipping
Buy It Now$4,200.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Priced high
163 Elinvar titled Type IIE, about $2,560 over the band.
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Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 11, 2026.
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