This watch is the highest grade of Keystone Howard watches and is one of the highest quality American watches ever made. Only 300 examples were produced.The years between 1900 and 1910 were among the best for American watch companies. Production increased every year, the public had strong confidence (and rightly so) in American watches, and the danger of a Swiss comeback seemed far off. By the 1910's, many companies had begun experimenting with extravagant models. In 1908, Waltham launched the Premier Maximus, which sold for US$ 250, a staggering amount at the time for an American watch. Other watch companies followed suit. At a price tag of US350, Keystone Howard Co. introduced the Edward Howard model complete with sapphire jewels, jeweled banking pins and a freesprung balance in the tradition of chronometry. Strangely enough, this watch was made more in the European watchmaking tradition than the American: it was hand-finished. Since spare parts were not available, the watch needed to be returned to the factory if parts were broken or missing.It is interesting to note that the gold eccentric adjustment fixtures on the balance arms are predecessors of the much later Gyromax balance, found on so many high grade Patek Philippe wristwatches.To find one of these watches in its original condition, without the owner's name or initials engraved (especially with the outer card box) is very rare.