The Tremont Watch Company, founded in 1864 in Boston, aimed to revolutionize American watchmaking with precision engineering and interchangeable parts. Inspired by Waltham, it sought to produce high-quality key-wound pocket watches at competitive prices. Unlike its contemporaries, Tremont outsourced movement production to Switzerland, assembling the watches in the U.S.—a unique approach at the time.
Despite its innovations, financial struggles led to a reorganization and relocation to Melrose, Massachusetts, in 1866, where it rebranded as the Melrose Watch Company. The transition was short-lived, and operations soon ceased. Today, Tremont watches, especially its 15-jewel key-wind models, are prized by collectors for their rarity, craftsmanship, and role in early American horology.