1912 South Bend The Studebaker Pocket Watch 16s Railroad Grade 223 17 Jewels Open face

Watch Overview

This is a remarkable timepiece — a highly collectible South Bend “The Studebaker” Railroad Grade pocket watch, dated from 1912 and made in the U.S.A. A true representation of early 20th-century American watchmaking, this vintage model showcases South Bend’s precision and reliability.

This open-face, manual-wind watch houses the original South Bend Watch Co. movement, caliber Studebaker grade 223, model 2, with 17 jewels, size 16s, and a lever-set configuration. It is adjusted to six positions, temperature, and isochronism — for a total of nine adjustments. This movement is part of a small production run of only 1,000 pieces (with a total grade production of 5,000), making it a rare and historically significant example of South Bend’s railroad-grade engineering.

The elegant white enamel dial features bold black Arabic numerals, a distinctive red minute track, and large blue steel hands for excellent legibility. A sub-seconds dial is positioned at 6 o’clock, emphasizing its classic and functional design. The watch is housed in a 50.4 mm nickel round case with polished screw bezel and back with an engraved. In very good vintage condition, it shows some wear consistent with its age. Fully inspected and authenticated by our in-house watchmaker, this fine South Bend timepiece runs accurately and stands as a beautiful addition to any railroad pocket watch collection.

Product Details

General Specifications

• Brand: South Bend
• Type: Pocket Watch
• Model: The Studebaker
• Year / Era: 1912 - Vintage
• Gender: Men's
• Country of Manufacture: United States - U.S.A.

Dial & Display

• Display: Analog
• Color: White
• Features: Black Arabic numerals, bold/red minute track and large matching blue steel hands. Sub-seconds at 6 o'clock position
• Closure: Open Face

Movement

• Type: Mechanical
• Caliber: Studebaker Grade 223
• Jewels: 17
• Movement Functions:
  • Manual-winding
  • Central hours and minutes
  • Small-seconds
  • Model 2
  • Size 16s
  • Lever-set
  • Railroad grade
  • Adjusted 6 positions, temperature and isochronism
  • Total adjustment 9
  • Serial Number 727372
  • Run quantity: 1,000
  • Grade/Model total production: 5,000

Case & Band

• Material: Nickel
• Case Shape: Round - Polished
• Bezel: Screw - Polished
• Back: Screw - Engraved
• Crown: Lever-set
• Case Back Markings: Nickel - G852242

Case Measurements (mm)

• Case Size: 50.4
• Case Diameter w/Crown: 60.2
• Case Thickness: 13.5

Additional Info

• Box & Papers: NO
• Condition: The watch remains in good condition, showing some signs of wear consistent with its age and use. Strong case and bezel, as well as a white enamel dial. The pocket watch holder is not included in the purchase.
• Extras: This timepiece has been fully inspected and authenticated by our in-house watchmaker, confirming that it runs accurately. It is ready to wear.

History & Legacy of South Bend

The South Bend Watch Company was founded in 1902 when the Studebaker family—brothers George and Clement, along with their uncle John—purchased the Columbus Watch Company and relocated it to South Bend, Indiana. Officially organized on May 8, 1902, with a capital stock of $1,000,000, the company began factory operations on March 23, 1903, aiming to produce 1,200 high-quality watches per day. Over the following decades, South Bend became known for its precision and craftsmanship, ultimately manufacturing approximately 850,000 watches before ceasing operations in 1929.

About Second Hand Horology

At SECOND HAND HOROLOGY, we offer a curated selection of watches ranging from vintage to modern, including both brand-new and pre-owned timepieces. We’re committed to quality, accuracy, and integrity. Our listings feature:

Professional, unedited photography and clear, transparent descriptions. Every watch is thoroughly inspected and securely packaged to ensure a confident, seamless buying experience.

We also warmly invite you to visit our physical shop and explore the collection in person.

Contact Us

We appreciate you checking out our listing! Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, offers, or just to talk watches — we love what we do and enjoy connecting with fellow enthusiasts.

Thank you for your business—we truly appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again in the future!

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