1893 AURORA WATCH COMPANY WORLD'S FAIR POCKET WATCH?

92.5%
93.5%

I don't think so

 

it's 92.5 and 93.5

 

Going back to math class, just so it's clear (although both Terry and Holly are expressing it differently.) Silver alloy is measured in parts per thousand. 1 percent of 1000 is 10. The difference between sterling at 925 parts per thousand and the Swiss standard of 935 parts per thousand is 10. Therefore, there is 1% more silver in the 935 than there is in sterling.

 

When you make silver alloys,it is a percentage of 100 to measure the materials.

 

Starting at the bottom, the Kendal and Dent watch is Swiss made and cased and sold in Britain, probably, Kendal and Dent are well known London makers and retailers. In this case, no making, just importing a routine key wound and set Swiss cylinder escapement ladies watch from the late 19th C.
If you are buying watches buy a key star, a multi size key, cheap and handy.

These lady's size watches are always cheaper than men's size watches.

Looking at the first watch, the dial painting is obviously an afterthought, and any of the speculation could be correct.
The case appears to have a finger nail lip on the back and in the second picture of the back, it appears to have had the outer back removed to reveal a base metal cuvette or inner cover. Case composition would be on the inside of the outer cover. The inner cover if that is what I am seeing should pop off, there should be a sign of where to insert a case knife.
Setting the watch is a puzzle. I see no sign of it being pin set and the bezel does not look as if it is lever set so it may simply be broken. Internal investigation by someone competent would be needed. It is unlikely to be so hard to move the stem that you cannot do it so do not try to force it any more.

Please add any other questions.

 

One per cent is 1/100; 10/1000 or 10/925 = 1% or approx. 1%. One per cent over 925 is 934.25. 926 is approx. 0.11% higher than 925. Percentages are parts per 100; silver is measured in parts per 1,000. You need to divide by 10 to convert thousandths to hundredths. I thound like I'm lithping.

 

Yes, reading the biography of the Edward Arndt that was posted above, I see that he was living and working in Saginaw, Michigan during the time of the Columbian Exposition (World's Fair). He could have traveled to Chicago for the fair but it's hard to tell. He was born in Chicago but seems to have left there to attend school in Fort Wayne when he was young. There's no indication that he ever lived there again.