Expert: Melvin Mills - 2/27/2008

Question
Hello, Melvin - I have been disposing of old things on eBay and ran across a
watch given to my mother on her 21st birthday in 1919 (engraved as such). It
is a Helbros; inside the back is has: Wadsworth Pilot 25 years, 3786794.
There is no number on the back of the movement, just "Helbros-Swiss" and
15 jewels, 3 adj. The hidden back of the front case has the numbers: 4976. I
know you can't offer an appraisal, but is there any way of knowing if the case
is gold? There are no karat markings; the front is decoratively engraved.

Answer
Fred,

Hello. The "25 years" means that the gold was guaranteed not to wear through to the base metal for 25 years.  That means that the watch is gold filled but is not solid gold.

Only about 5% of watches were made of solid gold.  It sounds like a very nice watch.
15 jewels means that it probably keeps good time, even by today's standards (for mechanical watches, not quartz).

Kind regards,

Melvin