Halda: Watch Movements and Pocket Watches from Sweden – Part 2

In the first part of this article, we looked at the history of the Swedish company Halda, which produced pocket watches from 1887 and developed its own movements. In the second part, we will now take a look at these movements.

Halda did not use classic caliber designations like other manufacturers. We prefer to speak of movement models here, as their designation refers to a combination of the quality of the case (gold or silver) and the movement. These models were each marked with a single letter, with the exception of the Export model.

Some letters were used over time for two different movements, i.e. over different production periods. For this reason, Gen for generation and the number 1 or 2 are added to the letters for the models in the following table.

All Halda movements have a Swiss lever escapement with free-standing lever pallets. The crown wheel and ratchet wheel are located between the plates in all Halda movements. A Maltese cross stop-work on the mainspring barrel also seems to have been standard at Halda.

Most Halda movements are Lépine (open face) calibers; only the L and R models are Savonnette (hunter) versions for watches with a cover.

In addition to the letter for the model, the movements are also stamped with HALDA or HALDA FICKURFABRIK.

The following information is taken from the Halda price lists of 1889, 1894, 1895 and 1899 and from the book HALDA – en svensk fickurfabrik (see below). Unfortunately, the information found there is not always consistent. This information was supplemented by observations on my own movements.

Halda A Gen 1

• 1889 – 1893
• Men’s silver watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 15 jewels
• Balance with gold screws and roll-hardened Breguet hairspring, triangular impulse jewel, single roller
• Hands set via crown with pusher

Halda A Gen 2

• 1895 – 1918
• Men’s gold watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 15 jewels
• Bimetallic screw balance with regulating screws and Breguet hairspring, oval impulse jewel, double roller
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Movement marked with HALDA FICKURFABRIK and A in a circle
• Movement shown is dated around 1903 due to the serial number 14760

Halda B

• 1895 – 1899(+)
  Possibly longer than 1899, as no later price lists are available.
• Ladies’ silver watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 15´´´
• 15 jewels
• Balance with regulating screws and Breguet hairspring, oval impulse jewel, double roller
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Bridge shape like model A Gen 2

Halda C

• 1894 – 1918
• Men’s silver watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 17 jewels
• Bimetallic screw balance with Breguet hairspring, oval (pricelist from 1894) or semi-circular (price lists 1895, 1899) impulse jewel, double roller
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Movement marked with HALDA FICKURFABRIK and C in a circle on the base plate
• Movement shown is dated around 1896 due to the serial number 3779

The movement has a moustache type pallet fork with lateral counterweights:

Parts of a dismantled Halda C:

Halda D

• 1894 – 1918
  In the price list 1895 described as “Model of 1895”, but already listed in the price list of 1894!
• Ladies’ gold watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 15”’
• 17 jewels
• Balance with gold and regulating screws, semi-circular impulse jewel
• Flying barrel
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Bridge shape like model O

Halda Export 14´´´

• 1896
• Ladies’ watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 14´´´
• 15 jewels
• Presumably only demonstration samples were produced

Halda Export 19´´´

• 1896 – 1918
• Men’s watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 15 jewels
• Bimetallic screw balance with Breguet hairspring, oval impulse jewel, double roller
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Movement marked with HALDA EXPORT on the base plate
• Movement shown is dated around 1897 due to the serial number 8368

Here is a picture of a partially dismantled movement:

Incidentally, the spring on the pusher for setting the hands is installed the wrong way round in the picture. One of several problems that the movement had when I got it.

Halda F

• 1894 – 1910
  In the price list 1895 described as “Model of 1895”, but already listed in the price list of 1894!
• Ladies’ silver watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 15´´´
• 17 jewels
• Bimetallic screw balance with Breguet hairspring, semi-circular impulse jewel, double roller
• Bridge shape like models A Gen 2, B and D

Halda G

• 1889 – 1893
• Men’s silver watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 17 jewels
• Balance with gold screws and fire-hardened Breguet hairspring, triangular impulse jewel, single roller
• Flying barrel
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Bridge shape like model A Gen 1

Halda H Gen 1

• 1889 – 1893
• Men’s gold watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 19 jewels, including 1 diamond
• Non-rusting balance with gold and platinum screws, non-rusting Breguet hairspring, triangular impulse jewel, double roller
• Patented regulator
  The regulator is based on the Swedish patent SE1172, which was presented in the first part of this article
• Flying barrel
• Hands set via crown with or without pusher
• Bridge shape like models A Gen 1 and Modell G

Halda H Gen 2

• 1894 – 1918
• Men’s gold watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 19 jewels
• Bimetallic screw balance with gold an platium screws (price list 1894) or gold and regulating screws (price lists 1895, 1899), fire-hardened Breguet hairspring, triangular impulse jewel, double roller
• Patented regulator
• Flying barrel
• Hands set via crown (without pusher)
• Bridge shape like models A Gen 1, G and H Gen 1

Halda J

• 1895 – 1918
• Ladies’ gold watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 15´´´
• 15 jewels
• Bimetallic screw balance with Breguet hairspring, oval impulse jewel, double roller
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Bridge shape like models A Gen 2, B, D and F
• Movement marked with HALDA FICKURFABRIK and J in a circle
• Movement shown is dated around 1911 due to the serial number 20681

Halda K Gen 1

• 1889 – 1893
• Men’s silver watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 17 jewels
• Balance with gold screws and fire-hardened Breguet hairspring, triangular impulse jewel, single roller
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Bridge shape like models A Gen 1, G, H Gen 1 and H Gen 2

Halda K Gen 2

• 1895 – 1918
• Men’s silver watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 17 jewels
• Balance with regulating screws and Breguet hairspring, semi-circular impulse jewel, double roller
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Bridge shape like models A Gen 2, B, D, F and J

Halda L

• 1894 – 1918
• Men’s silver watch with cover (Savonnette, hunter)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 17 jewels?
• Screw balance with Breguet hairspring, double roller
• Savonnette (hunter) variant of the Lépine (open face) bridges of models A Gen 2, B, D, F, J and K Gen 2

Halda N Gen 1

• 1889 – 1893
• Men’s silver watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 19 jewels, including 1 diamond
• Non-rusting balance with gold screws, non-rusting Breguet hairspring, triangular impulse jewel, double roller
• Patented regulator
• Flying barrel
• Hands set via crown with or without pusher
• Bridge shape like models A Gen 1, G, H Gen 1, H Gen 2 and K Gen 1

Halda N Gen 2

• 1893 – 1918
• Men’s silver watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 19 jewels
• Balance with gold and regulating screws, fire-hardened Breguet hairspring, triangular impulse jewel, double roller
• Patented regulator
• Flying barrel
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Bridge shape like models A Gen 1, G, H Gen 1, H Gen 2, K Gen 1 and N Gen 1

Halda O

• 1895 – 1918
• Men’s silver watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 17 jewels
• Bimetallic screw balance with gold screws and Breguet hairspring, semi-circular impulse jewel (according to price lists 1895, 1899), double roller, moustache type pallet fork.
  However, my own movement has an oval impulse jewel!
• Patented regulator
• Flying barrel
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Bridge shape like models A Gen 2, B, D, F, J and K Gen 2
• Movement marked with HALDA FICKURFABRIK and O in a circle
• Movement shown is dated around 1903 due to the serial number 14803

Halda P

• 1893 – 1895
• Men’s gold watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 15 jewels
• Balance with regulating screws and fire-hardened Breguet hairspring, oval impulse jewel
• Bridge shape like model C

Halda R

• 1894 – 1918
• Men’s gold watch with cover (Savonnette, hunter)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 17 jewels?
• Bimetallic screw balance with Breguet hairspring, double roller
• Patented regulator
• Flying barrel
• Bridge shape like model L

Halda S Gen 1

• 1889 – 1893
• Men’s silver watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 19 jewels
• Balance with gold screws and fire-hardened Breguet hairspring, triangular impulse jewel, single roller
• Patented regulator
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Bridge shape like models A Gen 1, G, H Gen 1, H Gen 2, K Gen, N Gen 1 and N Gen 2

Halda S Gen 2

• 1893 – 1896
• Men’s silver watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 17 jewels
• Bimetallic balance with gold screws and fire-hardened Breguet hairspring, semi-circular impulse jewel, double roller
• Patented regulator
• Hands set via crown with pusher
  • Bridge shape like models A Gen 1, G, H Gen 1, H Gen 2, K Gen, N Gen 1, N Gen 2 and S Gen 1

Halda T Gen 1

• 1889 – 1893
• Men’s gold watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 19 jewels
• Balance with gold screws and two regulating screws, fire-hardened Breguet hairspring, triangular impulse jewel
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Bridge shape like models A Gen 1, G, H Gen 1, H Gen 2, K Gen, N Gen 1 und N Gen 2, S Gen 1 and S Gen 2

Halda T Gen 2

• 1894 – 1918
• Men’s gold watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 17 jewels
• Bimetallic balance with gold screws and fire-hardened Breguet hairspring, semi-circular impulse jewel, double roller, moustache type pallet fork
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Bridge shape like models A Gen 1, G, H Gen 1, H Gen 2, K Gen, N Gen 1, N Gen 2, S Gen 1, S Gen 2 and T Gen 1

Halda V

• 1889 – 1918
• Men’s gold watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 19 jewels
• Bimetallic balance with gold and regulating screws, fire-hardened Breguet hairspring, triangular impulse jewel, double roller, moustache type pallet fork
• Patented regulator
• Flying barrel
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Bridge shape like models A Gen 1, G, H Gen 1, H Gen 2, K Gen, N Gen 1, N Gen 2, S Gen 1, S Gen 2, T Gen 1 and T Gen 2

HALDA Z

• 1894 – 1918
• Men’s silver watch, Lépine (open face)
• Diameter 19´´´
• 15 jewels
• Bimetallic screw balance with regulating screws and Breguet hairspring, oval impulse jewel, double roller
• Hands set via crown with pusher
• Bridge shape like models C and P
• Movement marked with HALDA or HALDA FICKURFABRIK and with Z in a circle on the base plate

There is an older and a newer version of the movement. The design of the older version corresponds to that of the Model C. The Model Z was Halda’s most frequently produced movement, accounting for around 20 percent of total production.

Old:
Movement shown is dated around 1894 due to the serial number 1541.

New:
Movement shown is dated around 1908 due to the serial number 18554.

Literature

In 1987, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Halda Fickurfabrik, the Swedish Watchmakers’ Association (Sveriges Urmakareförbund) published the following book in an edition of 1,000 copies:

Title: HALDA – en svensk fickurfabrik
Authors: Sven Sandström, Sture Carlsson, Staffan Sjunnesson
Editor: Stefan Sahlén

The Swedish Watchmakers’ Association (Sveriges Urmakareförbund) has kindly given me permission to use the movement illustrations from the book for this article. Many thanks for this!