Most watches tell time. A rare few tell history. This Independence Day, we're sharing one of the most extraordinary pieces ever to pass through our doors — a Waltham Model 1862 pocket watch presented by the President of the United States in 1867 to a sea captain who risked his life to save others.
It is a watch born from American craftsmanship, awarded for American valor, and engraved with the words of the American President. There is no better day to share it than the 4th of July.
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The Story Behind the Watch
The year was 1867. The United States was still healing from the wounds of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated two years prior, and his Vice President, Andrew Johnson, had assumed the Presidency. It was a time when acts of courage and selflessness were honored deeply by a nation still finding its footing.
Captain Hans Dahlberg commanded a vessel on the open seas when the American bark Toscana ran into catastrophe. Dahlberg and his crew risked everything to rescue the Toscana's crew from almost certain death. It was the kind of act that defined character — no headlines, no cameras, just duty and bravery on the open water.
"The President of the United States to Capt. Hans Dahlberg for the rescue of the Crew of the Am. Bark Toscana. 1867."
— Engraved inside the case
President Andrew Johnson personally ordered the presentation of this watch as a formal acknowledgment of Dahlberg's heroism. It was not a gift off a shelf. It was a commission — a heavy 18K yellow gold Waltham hunting case, hand-engraved and hand-enameled with imagery befitting the occasion.
Left: The hand-enameled U.S. Presidential Seal on the case back. Right: The engraved presentation inscription inside the case.
The Watch Itself
Waltham was the crown jewel of American watchmaking in the 19th century. Their Model 1862 — named for the year of its introduction, amid the Civil War — was among their finest movements: a high-grade, 19-jewel, key-wind and key-set caliber built to last generations. And it has.
The case is 18K yellow gold, heavy and substantial in the hand. The front is adorned with a black-enameled nautical lifesaving scene — an unmistakable nod to Dahlberg's act at sea. The rear bears a hand-enameled U.S. Presidential Seal in black, blue, and red: a bald eagle clutching an olive branch in one talon and a bundle of arrows in the other, the "E Pluribus Unum" banner above, and a patriotic shield on its chest.
Inside the front cover, the engraved inscription records the gift for eternity. The white enamel dial with Roman numerals remains crisp and legible after more than 150 years.
The open case, the 19-jewel movement, and the pristine white enamel dial.
A Documented Legacy
What makes this piece even more remarkable is its provenance. Included with the watch is a three-page Finnish newspaper article from 1972 — over a century after the presentation — featuring photographs of the watch, Captain Hans Dahlberg himself, and his grandson Armas Dahlberg, who owned it at the time of publication.
Few watches of any era come with documentation this rich, this personal, or this independently verified. The chain of custody from a sitting U.S. President to a Finnish sea captain's family, spanning more than a century, is extraordinary. This is living history in 18K gold.
Details of the case enameling and documentation that travels with this piece.
Presidential Presentation Watches: Rarity in Context
Presidential presentation watches are among the rarest categories in American horology. Unlike military medals or certificates, they were expensive to commission, bespoke in nature, and given only in the most exceptional circumstances. Most were never meant to be sold — they were family heirlooms, passed down as proof of honor.
When one surfaces on the open market, it's an event. When it comes with its full documentation and an unbroken story stretching from 1867 to today, it's something collectors wait decades to encounter.
The complete watch as it exists today — over 155 years after it left the White House.
Available Now at DeMesy & Co.
This watch is currently available in our Dallas showroom and ships overnight, fully insured. Whether you are a serious collector of American horology, a student of Presidential history, or someone searching for the rarest of heirlooms — this piece commands attention.
We've handled thousands of exceptional timepieces over three decades. This is one we won't forget.
Waltham Presidential Presentation Model 1862 — 18K Yellow Gold
Presented by President Andrew Johnson, 1867 | 19 Jewels | White Enamel Dial
Includes 1972 Finnish newspaper documentation | Pre-owned with custom box
$39,500 | Overnight insured shipping available
Questions? Call us at (214) 855-8777 or email sales@demesy.com. We're happy to share more photos, answer questions about provenance, or arrange a viewing at our Highland Park showroom.
Happy 4th of July from all of us at DeMesy & Co. — where every watch has a story worth telling.
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DeMesy & Co. is a Dallas-based luxury pre-owned watch and jewelry dealer with over 30 years of expertise. Located at 4514 Cole Ave #808, Dallas, TX 75205. demesy.com
