Waltham · 23 jewels · 16s · by 1911 to the mid-1950s
This is the watch Waltham was still building when its American factory wound down. The 16-size 23-jewel Vanguard was already in the 1911 catalog, and it stayed in production until watchmaking at Waltham ended in the mid-1950s. From the late 1930s Waltham also gave it the grade number 1623, and in the mid-1940s it moved to a redesigned movement collectors call the Model A. Railroads accepted it everywhere. Most No. 1623 movements set with a lever near the 56-minute mark, and Waltham sold them complete in factory cases cut to match. The wartime runs often carry dials and cases marked Premier. Waltham put that word on almost its whole line then, so it doesn't mean a higher grade. Early movements are damaskeened in the classic style, while later ones got plainer finishing and Waltham's rust-resistant, anti-magnetic Correlator balance and hairspring. Pick the era you like, then check the movement matches it.
The grade
Vanguard was Waltham's top regular-production grade, and the 1911 catalog lists 16-size Vanguards with 19 or 23 jewels. From the late 1930s Waltham also called the 16-size 23-jewel version grade No. 1623, and in the mid-1940s it moved to a new Model A movement with a different regulator and the serial number on the pillar plate. The 1911 catalog says five positions, later movements are marked Adjusted 6 Positions, and from about serial 31,331,000 they read 8 Adjustments, which still means six positions. Confirm Vanguard and 23 Jewels on the plate, since the 19-jewel version looks much the same.
Plenty of Vanguard factory cases wore through to the brass, and collectors often swapped in cases taken off the cheaper 21-jewel Riverside No. 1621. Later Vanguards came with single-sunk or painted dials, so look for chips and touch-ups instead of expecting double-sunk enamel.
Buying guide
We'd buy the Premier Vanguard titled 23 jewels, 10K gold filled and running at $246 delivered, well under the $370–525 that most of the about 150 for sale ask delivered. Read Vanguard and 23 Jewels off the top plate, since the 19-jewel Vanguard looks the same, and look for Adjusted 6 Positions or 8 Adjustments, which both mean six positions. Up/down wind-indicator Vanguards are the collector variant and ask about $600–680 delivered, and the pendant-set one in a hunter case isn't the railroad setup. eBay's cards here don't show seller feedback, so check it on the item page.
$209.05est. delivered
The lowest fixed-price 23-jewel Vanguard here at $209 delivered, titled circa 1904. It isn't titled running and the case metal isn't stated, so ask what the case is and budget for a service.
Waltham Antique Pocket Watch 16S 23J VANGUARD Circa 1904
$246.17est. delivered
Titled 23 jewels, 10K gold filled and running, about $125 under the bottom of the band. Waltham put Premier on its wartime runs, so check the serial against the 1930 in the title.
Waltham Premier Vanguard 23 Jewels 10K Gold Filled RR 1930 Pocket Watch Running
$439.99est. delivered
Titled grade 1623 with 8 adjustments, a gold-filled case and running, at $440 delivered in the middle of the band. It's the late 16-size Vanguard railroads accepted everywhere, which makes it an easy first railroad watch.
Vintage 1952 - Waltham Vanguard 23j 8adj Gf Case Pocket watch grd. 1623 Running
$389.95delivered
Titled lever set and keeps time, at $390 delivered inside the band. Keeping time is the seller's claim, so ask when it was last serviced.
1926 Waltham Vanguard 23J 16S Lever Set Railroad Pocket Watch, KEEPS TIME
$426.00est. delivered
An up/down wind-indicator Vanguard, the variant collectors look for, with bidding at $426 delivered. Fixed-price indicator Vanguards ask about $600–625 delivered, so we'd stop there.
L84 MINTY 1926 16s UP DOWN WIND INDICATOR 23J WALTHAM VANGUARD RAILROAD WATCH!
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 10, 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 10, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$209.05est. delivered
$195.00 + $14.05 shipping
Buy It Now$195.00
Good buy
Titled circa 1904. Not titled running, case metal not stated.
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Used$246.17est. delivered
$240.00 + $6.17 shipping
Buy It Now$240.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
Titled Premier, 10K gold filled and running. Premier points to wartime, so check the 1930 date.
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Used$439.99est. delivered
$425.00 + $14.99 shipping
Buy It Now$425.00
Good buy
Titled 1952, grade 1623, gold-filled case, running.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$389.95delivered
$389.95 · free shipping
Buy It Now$389.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
Titled lever set, keeps time. That's the seller's claim, not a service.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$426.00est. delivered
$405.00 + $21.00 shipping
Auction · 10 bids
Good buy
Up/down wind indicator, 1926 per the title. Auction with 10 bids, so it will climb.
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Used$425.00est. delivered
$395.00 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$395.00
Our take
Titled 1937, open face, railroad. Not titled running.
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Used$425.00est. delivered
$400.00 + $25.00 shipping
Buy It Now$400.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled grade 1623, adjusted 6 positions and temperature. Not titled running.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$682.29est. delivered
$675.00 + $7.29 shipping
Auction · no bids yet
Our take
Up/down indicator, lever set, titled runs. Opening bid sits above the fixed-price indicator watches.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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